Gifted experience: As always all opinion are my own, I have not taken payment for this review.
Intro:
I recently enjoyed partnering with Open Road Access.
The team was kind enough to reach out and offer a day out with one of their lovely vehicles. My PA’s and I had the WAV for a couple of days and got to enjoy its full potential taking it into Central London to enjoy a show as well as out into the countryside where I went on a beautiful Wheelchair Accessible Walk.
ORA specialises in a WAV rental service with disabled people in mind - designed with the help of wheelchair users for wheelchair users, accessibility and comfort are clear priorities of ORA.
About ORA:
Open Road Access (ORA) offers a range of Small, Medium and Large Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAV) hire for all situations. Whether that’s a day for a quick airport run, a week of adventures, or a whole year while you trial different WAVs! ORA offers All-Inclusive rental, meaning they offer breakdown cover and insurance and a price-match promise!
There are over 1000 vehicles to choose from, with multiple adaptations, layouts, and number of passenger seats varying depending on your needs.
ORA covers nationwide availability and delivers WAV straight to your door. ORA employs disabled individuals and consults disabled people throughout the development of their business. Their employees are a credit to them and I was impressed at just how knowledgeable the drivers delivering the vehicle were about their fleet and how thorough the onsite team were.
Overall thoughts:
Receiving the WAV was super simple! Disabled people spend a lot of time doing paperwork and admin, so I was prepared to have to provide lots of details but the whole process was hassle-free.
I simply provided a delivery address and some details to complete driving license checks for insurance purposes, signed on the dotted line and we were good to go.
Why you should trust my review:
I know accessibility isn’t one- size fits all and therefore I provide information with my honest feedback on my personal experiences. I know just how important honest and reliable reviews are as a disabled person and consequently
committed to giving my true opinion of all products and services I review.
Although this is a gifted experience, all opinions are my own and I am not being paid for any of the content I share.
Price:
This was a gifted experience as part of the ExplORA series.
Pricing depends on the length of rental, the size of the car, and the distance from our branches. Average rates are £150 for 1 day rental, £545 for 1 week rental, with significant discounts available for longer rentals.
They also provide a personalised service, working with customers to provide the most cost-efficient bundle for their needs.
For more information see their website
Available from: https://openroadaccess.co.uk/
What vehicle we got: Citroen Space Tourer Cosmo 2023 with automatic transmission.
Why I’m using it:
We received the WAV from ORA for a trip to London, followed by a day out exploring the South Downs. It was great to experience a different experience of a WAV.
Before purchasing my own WAV with a PIP back- payment, I did not have access to wheelchair-accessible transport and had to rely on members of the public to lift my wheelchair in several parts into my car for me.
What I like and even better if:
I loved the WAV and my PA’s were very reluctant to hand the keys back. Personally, my aspect of the WAV was just how comfortable it was. In my current van I have dislocated joints going over potholes in the road. In this vehicle, there were armrests and I was able to recline my seat, meaning my joints and back injury felt noticeably less painful after a long drive, I also found I didn’t get travel sick as I was moving around a lot less than I do on my bench seat in my WAV.
The service with ORA from start to finish was excellent. I was asked to provide measurements in my wheelchair to ensure I was getting the right WAV to fit my needs. We LOVED the video guides on their website showing how to do this as well as videos on how to secure the wheelchair restraints.
We wondered whether a QR code link to these videos or more videos with similar instructions for example setting up Bluetooth for phone connection for Google Maps as this took us a little while and it tends to be slightly different for every vehicle.
There were a few things I felt might be tricky for some disabled people if they were to be driving the WAV independently- this had nothing to do with the service and more so the adaptations of the vehicle. Perhaps this could be something to note if you were to be hiring the vehicle alone as a disabled person. For example- the clasp between the ramp extension and the ramp could be quite fiddly, I’m sure a different style vehicle would be recommended for different needs.
Comfort:
Going from my current vehicle which very much feels like a workman’s van to this WAV there was a noticeable difference in the way it drove. This WAV felt like a spacious car.mThe drive felt smooth and steady and my wheelchair stayed secure with no rattling the whole way. (My tin can van could only dream of a quiet journey!)
The WAV was extremely comfortable, with plenty of room for myself and my two PAs. I was able to recline my seat, meaning I could stretch out and rest during the journey. There was also plenty of room for all our bags and extra passengers too meaning we could take everything we needed for the trip!
Appearance:
Smooth and Sleek!
Considering how much room there was, the van felt fairly compact and drove much more like a car. The inside was clean, modern, and spacious.
Comparison to others on the market:
ORA offers a unique service, they are a customer-centered, accessible approach to vehicle hire, including delivering nationwide to your door. The staff are helpful and happy to answer any queries or concerns you might have. There isn’t another WAV rental company that offers the same range of products and services.
What problems does it solve?:
You can hire an ORA Wheelchair Accessible Van (WAV) for as little as a day and as long as a year! If your vehicle has broken down or needs repairs, hiring a WAV means you can still get around comfortably and accessibly. The ORA team provides vehicles nationwide and drops them at your address.
Whether you have your vehicle or not, you want to be comfortable during trips away or long drives. ORA offers a range of WAVs, with different sizes, seats, and adaptations available. Some of their vehicles even accommodate two wheelchair users! I’d love to try one of these with one of my friends!
Reasons to hire a WAV:
You don’t Have a WAV- WAV’s are expensive and it’s hard to find the perfect vehicle to meet your needs. Perhaps you don’t have access to your own Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle, but have an event or appointment to get to. You can hire a WAV from ORA to suit the timeframe you need one for and choose the kind of vehicle that fits you and your preferences.
You need more space- for luggage, medical equipment, or for family and friends- Your own WAV might be great for everyday use, but if you’re planning a trip with friends, traveling with lots of luggage, or moving house, you might be lacking room. ORA offers vehicles that can accommodate several passengers and can be adapted to fit what you’re looking for.
Perhaps your vehicle has broken down.
You have a special occasion and want to treat yourself.
Who is this product best for?
Hiring a WAV through Open Road Access is perfect for wheelchair users, as well as their family, friends, carers and PAs who can travel or drive alongside them. Anyone over 18 years old and with a driving license can be insured, meaning long drives can be split up between people.
Delivery:
The delivery process was faultless. The ORA team was extremely helpful and having the WAV delivered to my door with a full fuel tank meant it was good to go. They showed us how to secure the wheelchair and answered any questions we had.
The delivery drivers Steve and Paul were really lovely and very knowledgeable- they cared about the service they were offering and told us many stories of times they had enjoyed delivering WAV’s. We were able to track their arrival using a tracking map, so we knew exactly what time they would arrive but we also received a courtesy call so we knew they were on the way.
The team at ORA couldn’t have been more helpful or proud to work for ORA, and no question was too small. The delivery team showed us demonstrations of how to put the wheelchair in and out of the van and went into detail about the exciting features. My PA felt very well prepared to drive the van after our demonstrations, and that wouldn’t have been possible without the help of Steve and Paul.
Use:
The van was such a lovely drive and felt extremely smooth. Being a newer car, the brakes were very touch-sensitive and this meant it didn’t strain your legs too much when driving! You are also able to insure multiple drivers which was great for me (having a team of PA’s- multi driver insurance can be extautionate and come with restrictions) It also meant we could split long journeys between PA’s so responsibility between care, breaks and driving worked well.
More information:
For more information contact
Call: 0300 045 4505
Email: info@openroadaccess.co.uk
Links to videos:
Overall:
Overall if ever I were to find myself needing to hire a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle I know I could rely on booking through ORA. If not for the fact I can insure my younger PAs meaning I am less likely to be stuck for care support for long periods of times. But for the pure comfort for long drives, the space to stretch out and having the ability to travel safely in my wheelchair if I’m poorly.
With ORA there is plenty of space for bags, and wheelchair equipment, meaning you can take everything you need away with you.
Give ORA a go!
Would you like a review of the Citroen Spacetourer Cosmo?
Coming soon….
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