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November 13, 2007
Disabled Riders Coalition Pushes 311 For Accessible Taxicabs
Assembly Member Kellner joins advocates in endorsing program to expand transportation options for disabled
(NEW YORK CITY) NOVEMBER 13th, 2007 - The Disabled Riders Coalition was this morning joined by New York State Assembly Member Micah Z. Kellner (D/WFP - Upper East Side/Yorkville/Roosevelt Island) in endorsing a central dispatch system for accessible taxicabs...
With fewer than 80 accessible taxicabs and for-hire vehicles on the streets of New York City, the advocacy group and Kellner believe that a 311 call-in system, slated to be voted on by the city's Taxi and Limousine Commission this morning serves as a pragmatic interim solution to make taxicabs available to persons with mobility impairments, but stressed that such a system should in no way replace the goal of making the entire taxi fleet wheelchair accessible.
"Right now I could sit on a street corner with my hand out for hours and never even see an accessible taxicab," said Coalition Executive Director Michael A. Harris, himself a wheelchair-user. "For far too long the yellow taxicab, iconic of this great city for most has been a symbol of discrimination for people with disabilities. While central dispatch won't make things perfect it is a giant leap in the right direction and will open up a new medium of transportation to persons who have previously been excluded from using it. With accessible subway stations so few and far between, we firmly believe that the availability of accessible taxicabs plays a crucial role in making transportation more user-friendly to persons with disabilities."
"My entire district contains only one subway station and as such residents rely heavily on buses and taxis to navigate the city," said Kellner. "Sadly, for those with mobility impairments the taxicab has not been an option as a result of a lack of accessible vehicles. This morning, the TLC has the opportunity to take a giant leap toward changing that."
While Kellner and Harris both said that the TLC plan had some flaws that need to be fine-tuned, they believe that it showed a commitment on the part of TLC toward promoting greater access to taxicabs for persons with disabilities.
"With more than 1.3 million New York City residents with disabilities and countless disabled commuters and tourists coming through the city on a daily basis, this is a much needed measure," said Harris.
If approved by the Commission, passengers with disabilities would be able to make taxi arrangements by calling 311 beginning in January, 2008
CONTACT:
Michael A. Harris
Telephone: 646.405.9794
Mobile: 646.246.8795
Pager: 917.253.8095
E-mail: mediacontact@disabledriders.org
Posted by Nancy at November 13, 2007 07:23 PM