Lowfloor

Lowfloor refers to a design approach in which the floor of a vehicle, vessel, or building is kept close to ground level to minimize steps and improve accessibility. The term is most commonly applied to public transportation and architectural entries, where it facilitates wheelchair users, strollers, and people with limited mobility.

In road vehicles, low-floor buses and coaches feature a near-level floor from the front to the rear and doors at or near curb height. They typically avoid steps at doors, using ramps or kneeling mechanisms to bridge height differences between the bus floor and the street. Kneeling systems lower the entry for boarding at varying curb heights; ramps or lifts may handle the initial transition. Partial or semi-low-floor designs may reserve some sections of the vehicle for equipment or seating, resulting in a mix of floor heights.

Rail vehicles such as modern trams and light rail systems commonly employ low-floor design, yielding a flat interior from door to door and floor heights close to platform levels. This improves step-free boarding from standard platforms. Some train models use mixed-floor configurations to accommodate traction equipment or other constraints, producing a combination of low and higher floor areas.

In buildings and transit stations, a low-floor approach aims to level interior floors with entrances and minimize thresholds, often supplemented by ramps, curb cuts, and automatic doors to maintain barrier-free access.

Adoption of low-floor designs generally enhances accessibility and urban usability but can entail increased weight, reduced seating in some layouts, and higher manufacturing or maintenance costs. Compatibility with existing infrastructure and compliance with accessibility standards influence design choices across regions.