Disability community outraged over Taxi of Tomorrow selections

The city’s Taxi of Tomorrow announcement largely ignores the transportation needs of people who use wheelchairs, disability advocates said today.

Only one of the three vehicles announced as a finalist in the Taxi of Tomorrow program is accessible to persons with mobility aides, according to the Taxi and Limousine Commission.  The announcement brought ire from disability advocates, already upset that only 240 out of more than 13,000 city taxis have can accommodate a passenger using a wheelchair.

“We are disappointed that two of the vehicles are not being purpose built meaning we'll still be dealing with vehicles that were not designed or manufactured for inclusive, wheelchair accessible travel,” said Edith M. Prentiss, co-chair of the Taxis for All Campaign.  “We have a unique opportunity to have a fully accessible taxi fleet and it would be a shame to see that opportunity go by the wayside.”

Of the three finalists only the Karsan taxicab was proposed with a wheelchair ramp, something which only served to rub salt into the wounds of a community which feels they’ve been ignored for too long.  While Prentiss’ organization has not endorsed any particular vehicle, they say whatever vehicle is chosen must be accessible to people with all types of disabilities, not just mobility impairments.

But the TLC says that when it comes to accessibility they have gone above and beyond what is required of them.

"Taxicabs are not required by the ADA to be wheelchair accessible," said TLC Chairman David S. Yassky.  "Nonetheless it is the policy of the administration to be sure that we want this industry to be fully accessible.  Whether that means every single vehicle, whether that means a significant number of vehicles and a dispatch system that makes them accessible whatever the specifics are the commitment of the administration is that this industry must be accessible even beyond what the ADA requires." 

State Assemblyman Micah Z. Kellner (D – Manhattan/Roosevelt Island) has introduced legislation that would mandate full taxi accessibility by 2013 echoed Prentiss’ concerns.  The legislator said that he is deeply concerned that this program may result in the status quo of inaccessibility

“The Taxi of Tomorrow is a historic opportunity for the Mayor and the TLC to make New York the world capital of accessibility by mandating a 100% wheelchair-accessible taxi fleet,” said Kellner.  “The Mayor has stated repeatedly that he wants the Taxi of Tomorrow to be iconic—and I agree.  It should be an icon of inclusiveness – a city that welcomes all people should have a taxi that everyone can get into.   If the Mayor can’t choose an accessible vehicle, he needs to go back to the drawing board.”

Yassky said that regardless of what vehicle is chosen, the new project won’t adversely impact accessibility.

“We are required by state law to have at least 240 accessible cabs on the streets and the Taxi of Tomorrow won’t change that,” he told a small group of reporters at City Hall.  Yassky said it didn’t really matter whether they picked the Karsan or not, "regardless there will be accessible cabs either through purpose-built or after market modifications.”

Kellner and Prentiss both said that they’re not so much supporting the Karsan as much as advocating for the choice of a purpose built accessible vehicle.

"I certainly don't think that 240 [accessible cabs] are enough,” Kellner told Examiner.com.  “As I've said all along, the percentage that should be accessible is 100%.  The point is not to advocate for the Karsan per se, but the Mayor and the TLC Chairman have defined the playing field, and I'm not going to let the perfect be the enemy of the good.  I don't want to still be fighting this fight ten years from now.  As for the two non-accessible vehicles, if everyone can't get into them, then they're not reliable."

Ford’s website proudly touts that the TransitConnect can be easily converted into an accessible vehicle, but a spokesperson declined to comment on why their submission to the TLC lacked that feature.

The project was started by former TLC Chairman Matthew W. Daus who promised a fully accessible, fuel efficient taxi, prompting many who partook in the early negotiations said today that they felt betrayed by the lack of accessibility, an early promise by the Commission.  

In a touch of irony, a public service announcement regarding the project features Yassky riding in one of the 240 accessible cabs, although a spokesman said that was just "luck of the draw."