New York cabs sued for lack of wheelchair accessibility

[The Northerner]

(Reuters) - New York City taxis are facing a class-action lawsuit accusing the fleet of failing to provide enough access to passengers who use wheelchairs.

The lawsuit, the first of its kind in the United States, was filed in Manhattan federal court on Thursday on behalf of a coalition that advocates for rights of people with disabilities.

According to the suit, only about 1.8 percent of New York City's 13,237 taxis are accessible to wheelchair-bound passengers.

The lawsuit seeks no damages but aims to have the court acknowledge that the city's Taxi and Limousine Commission violates local and federal laws by not providing more wheelchair-accessible taxis.

The suit comes as the commission is poised to select a new model which will replace the city's entire fleet of taxicabs. Among the requirements specified by the city for the new model is wheelchair accessibility.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE70C5WJ20110113?feedType=RSS&feedName=domesticNews&rpc=22&sp=true

[Abq_Sarah]

1. Convert all taxis

To vans?

That would jack up the price of a ride.

[provis99]

2. 1.8% already sounds like too many

Surely the wheelchair population is less than 1.8% of the general population, and if so, why do we need more than 1.8% of cabs to be wheelchair accessible?

[Historic NY]

3. Its also because none are purpose built, its takes money to retrofit.

taxis are about to undergo even more downsizing when the Ford Crown Victoria is gone. Some of the cabs out there just can't make it on NY Streets. I always though that London Cabs would work but they were destroyed in no time.

"At the same time, no federal or local law requires that taxicabs be accessible to people with wheelchairs, and, in fact, the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) specifically exempts taxicabs from the requirement."

[beyurslf]

4. What % of people living in NYC require wheelchairs? 1.8% seems like

a good number to me.