Laura
08-19-2010, 01:55 PM
‘Taxi of Tomorrow’ Needs to Be Accessible to All – Now
By Assembly Member Micah Z. Kellner
New York Daily News, August 17, 2010
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). A bipartisan triumph that guaranteed the civil rights of millions of Americans who’d been treated as second-class citizens, the ADA enlarged our national understanding of fair access—while expanding our commitment to true democracy. In this anniversary year, we have a historic opportunity to further realize the dream of the ADA as New York City prepares for an entire a new fleet of taxis on our streets. Let’s seize this occasion to further honor the ADA by opening up New York City taxis to all people.
Two decades after the passage of the ADA, key areas of public life remain inaccessible for people with disabilities. The quintessential New York experience of hailing a taxi continues to run counter to the ideals of the ADA. Fewer than 300 of our city’s 13,000 yellow cabs are wheelchair accessible, putting this basic mode of city transportation out of reach for thousands of New Yorkers and visitors.
Fortunately, the Bloomberg Administration, working through the Taxi & Limousine Commission and the Department of Citywide Administrative Services, has launched the “Taxi of Tomorrow,” an exciting program to create an iconic New York City taxi that is safe, efficient and environmentally friendly. The TLC has recommended—but, notably, it has not required—that the Taxi of Tomorrow be accessible for riders with disabilities.
At a recent hearing I held on this issue, TLC Commissioner David Yassky expressed concern that manufacturers might not yet be able to mass-produce accessible vehicles that could meet the rigors of being a 24/7 New York City taxi.
But the technology is there. Automakers have begun to recognize a growing market for vehicles that are green and accessible—ideal candidates for a Taxi of Tomorrow that is both environmentally and socially responsible.
Mayor Bloomberg deserves credit for taking steps to improve transportation for riders with disabilities—for instance, he has agreed to begin a pilot program that will allow Access-a-Ride passengers to opt for trips by taxi, freeing customers from the cumbersome van service while saving taxpayers millions of dollars by reducing the per-trip cost of paratransit. But the people who would benefit most from this option are wheelchair users, who need a vehicle that can accommodate them. By mandating a 100%-accessible taxi fleet, the Mayor would be ensuring the success of this innovative new program.
Another reason to act now is the better serve disabled veterans returning from the war on terror. We also should be sensitive to the needs of disabled visitors to our city.
New York should be the world capital of accessibility. The Mayor can expand on the important work of the ADA by ensuring that the City’s next generation of taxicabs includes the new accessibility technology. It’s a chance for him to enhance his legacy – but, with a 10-year contract in store for the winning design, if the City chooses poorly it could set the quest for equal access back by a decade.
The ADA was born of the great American principle that true freedom means freedom for all. One in five Americans has some form of disability. When we take steps to ensure that they are integrated into daily life, we are expanding freedom as a whole. We must not miss this tremendous opportunity to open doors that have been closed for far too long to far too many people. The Taxi of Tomorrow must be a taxi for all.
Assembly Member Micah Z. Kellner represents the 65th District in Manhattan, including parts of the Upper East Side, Yorkville, and Roosevelt Island. He is the sponsor of legislation to require a 100%-accessible taxi fleet for New York City.
By Assembly Member Micah Z. Kellner
New York Daily News, August 17, 2010
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). A bipartisan triumph that guaranteed the civil rights of millions of Americans who’d been treated as second-class citizens, the ADA enlarged our national understanding of fair access—while expanding our commitment to true democracy. In this anniversary year, we have a historic opportunity to further realize the dream of the ADA as New York City prepares for an entire a new fleet of taxis on our streets. Let’s seize this occasion to further honor the ADA by opening up New York City taxis to all people.
Two decades after the passage of the ADA, key areas of public life remain inaccessible for people with disabilities. The quintessential New York experience of hailing a taxi continues to run counter to the ideals of the ADA. Fewer than 300 of our city’s 13,000 yellow cabs are wheelchair accessible, putting this basic mode of city transportation out of reach for thousands of New Yorkers and visitors.
Fortunately, the Bloomberg Administration, working through the Taxi & Limousine Commission and the Department of Citywide Administrative Services, has launched the “Taxi of Tomorrow,” an exciting program to create an iconic New York City taxi that is safe, efficient and environmentally friendly. The TLC has recommended—but, notably, it has not required—that the Taxi of Tomorrow be accessible for riders with disabilities.
At a recent hearing I held on this issue, TLC Commissioner David Yassky expressed concern that manufacturers might not yet be able to mass-produce accessible vehicles that could meet the rigors of being a 24/7 New York City taxi.
But the technology is there. Automakers have begun to recognize a growing market for vehicles that are green and accessible—ideal candidates for a Taxi of Tomorrow that is both environmentally and socially responsible.
Mayor Bloomberg deserves credit for taking steps to improve transportation for riders with disabilities—for instance, he has agreed to begin a pilot program that will allow Access-a-Ride passengers to opt for trips by taxi, freeing customers from the cumbersome van service while saving taxpayers millions of dollars by reducing the per-trip cost of paratransit. But the people who would benefit most from this option are wheelchair users, who need a vehicle that can accommodate them. By mandating a 100%-accessible taxi fleet, the Mayor would be ensuring the success of this innovative new program.
Another reason to act now is the better serve disabled veterans returning from the war on terror. We also should be sensitive to the needs of disabled visitors to our city.
New York should be the world capital of accessibility. The Mayor can expand on the important work of the ADA by ensuring that the City’s next generation of taxicabs includes the new accessibility technology. It’s a chance for him to enhance his legacy – but, with a 10-year contract in store for the winning design, if the City chooses poorly it could set the quest for equal access back by a decade.
The ADA was born of the great American principle that true freedom means freedom for all. One in five Americans has some form of disability. When we take steps to ensure that they are integrated into daily life, we are expanding freedom as a whole. We must not miss this tremendous opportunity to open doors that have been closed for far too long to far too many people. The Taxi of Tomorrow must be a taxi for all.
Assembly Member Micah Z. Kellner represents the 65th District in Manhattan, including parts of the Upper East Side, Yorkville, and Roosevelt Island. He is the sponsor of legislation to require a 100%-accessible taxi fleet for New York City.