An access system for a moveable vehicle having a longitudinal axis, comprising: an access device attached to the vehicle and movable between a stowed position and an access position, wherein a bottom end of the access device is disposed at a first horizontal distance from the longitudinal axis in the stowed position and is disposed a second greater horizontal distance from the longitudinal axis in the access position, the access device being configured to provide access to the moveable vehicle when in the access position; a biasing device (148, 208) associated with the access device and configured to apply a continuous biasing force to bias the access device toward the access position; and an actuator device (146, 204) associated with the access device and configured to apply a selective actuating force to the access device, the actuating force being controllable to be greater than the biasing force to move the access device to the stowed position and controllable to be less than the biasing force to allow the biasing force to move the access device to the access position characterized in that the access device is a ladder pivotable about a pivot point at an end of the ladder, wherein the ladder includes first and second posts (122, 124), at least one of the biasing device (148, 208) and the actuator device (146, 204) being disposed within at least one of the first and second posts (122, 124); the access system further comprises an articulation bar pivotably attached to the vehicle, wherein at least one of the first and second posts (122, 124) includes a slot (142, 144) formed therein, at least a portion of the at least one of the biasing device (148, 208) and the actuator device (146, 204) in the post being accessible through the slot (142, 144), and wherein the articulation bar extends into the slot (142, 144) and connects to the at least one of the biasing device (148, 208) and the actuator device (146, 204) in the post (122, 124), and wherein the articulation bar is disposed to pivot relative to the vehicle to move the ladder between the stowed position and the access position.. an access device attached to the vehicle and movable between a stowed position and an access position, wherein a bottom end of the access device is disposed at a first horizontal distance from the longitudinal axis in the stowed position and is disposed a second greater horizontal distance from the longitudinal axis in the access position, the access device being configured to provide access to the moveable vehicle when in the access position; a biasing device (148, 208) associated with the access device and configured to apply a continuous biasing force to bias the access device toward the access position; and an actuator device (146, 204) associated with the access device and configured to apply a selective actuating force to the access device, the actuating force being controllable to be greater than the biasing force to move the access device to the stowed position and controllable to be less than the biasing force to allow the biasing force to move the access device to the access position characterized in that the access device is a ladder pivotable about a pivot point at an end of the ladder, wherein the ladder includes first and second posts (122, 124), at least one of the biasing device (148, 208) and the actuator device (146, 204) being disposed within at least one of the first and second posts (122, 124); the access system further comprises an articulation bar pivotably attached to the vehicle, wherein at least one of the first and second posts (122, 124) includes a slot (142, 144) formed therein, at least a portion of the at least one of the biasing device (148, 208) and the actuator device (146, 204) in the post being accessible through the slot (142, 144), and wherein the articulation bar extends into the slot (142, 144) and connects to the at least one of the biasing device (148, 208) and the actuator device (146, 204) in the post (122, 124), and wherein the articulation bar is disposed to pivot relative to the vehicle to move the ladder between the stowed position and the access position..