Anthropometry of Wheeled Mobility Project: Final Report

3.3.13 360-Degree Turn

The standards on the space requirements for a 360-degree turn are quite similar across countries, ranging from 1500 mm (59 in.) in Canada and the U.K. to 1525 mm (60 in.) in the U.S.

Less than 50% of our manual and powered wheelchair users completed a 360-degree turn within the United States standard turning diameter (Figure 3‒12). None of our sample’s scooter users were able to complete a turn within the U.S. standard. In fact, the tightest 360 turn performed by a scooter user was 1900 mm (75 in.) in diameter! The 360-degree turning diameter would have to be increased to 2500 mm (a little over 98 in.) to accommodate our entire study sample.

In comparison, the UDI participants utilized a much larger space for the 360-degree turn in which no sides were blocked. A diameter of about 4200 mm (165 in.) would be needed to accommodate their entire sample. In our sample, scooter users overall require more space but the largest values for scooters, power chairs and manual chairs were very close. In the UDI sample, at least one power wheelchair user required a much larger clearance for the 360-degree turn (most likely the person with the “trailer” mentioned previously).

* indicates data plotted in the graph

Figure 3-13. 360-degree turning width area: research findings versus the standards.