Last Thursday, the NY Daily News put together a web poll asking people whether they felt New York City needed more “handicapped-accessible taxis.”
Presently, a majority (approx. 90 percent) of poll respondents are in favor of more wheelchair-accessible taxis in New York City. So far, approx. 7 percent have voted against. Those must be Bloomberg supporters, or what’s left of them. It seems he has lost the respect of most of NYC’s disability community.
Thanks to all of our members, supporters and friends who voted in the poll. Every bit helps in keeping this issue in the public’s view and working toward a fully-accessible yellow taxi fleet in NYC!
The taxi debate comes on the heels of Bloomberg’s public opposition to making NYC’s entire fleet accessible. Some of his reasons are considered ridiculous or blatantly offensive to wheelchair users who contacted United Spinal Association. And we whole-heartedly agree.
It’s really not shocking how many people are fed up with the Mayor’s rhetoric and the City’s failure to protect the rights of people with disabilities to have equal access to the Big Apple. What is shocking is that this is even an issue in a city like New York.
Below are a few comments we have received from supporters who are in the fight with us. We can’t name names, but you know who you are. Thanks for the feedback!
––“What do you expect from [people] like Mayor Bloomberg. Idiots say idiotic things.”
––“Someone should point out to [Bloomberg] that it’s good business to make any city more accessible and not just for the individuals in chairs, but for their families too. Even if I didn’t have multiple sclerosis, there are many places I can’t help my father get to because we just can’t get the chair there, so our shopping/travel dollars go elsewhere. As the population ages, more and more ‘regularly-abled’ folks are going to find this out. Keep up the good work!”
––“Why? There are no fully accessible taxis anywhere else. Look at Lubbock, Dallas, Houston, all of VA, DC etc. Come on! I’m a powerchair user and can’t even find curb cuts in most towns and cities!
––“Not only is Mayor Bloomberg off base; the entire issue is wrongly framed. What is needed is a federal law that effectively prohibits use of non-accessible vehicles for transporting people anywhere in the U.S. for any purpose by any person or agency, with perhaps a few exceptions such as ambulances and prisoner transportation… This would have multiple benefits including dramatically expanding the market for accessible vehicles thereby reducing vehicle price while expanding vehicle variety.”
––“Thank the gods that I live in SoCal. I have Access, Dial-a-Ride and City Ride available to me. The Buses available too on the most part are very helpful and courteous. If not, I report them immediately…If there is anything I could do from this end of our country, please advise. If we make it better for ourselves…it will be better for all.”
––“I have used a wheelchair for 36 years and I am on Committees here in New Hampshire for persons with special needs and one of the things we are trying to do is educate people to stop using the word “handicapped”. If people understand that the word comes from years ago when our Service men came home from the war and could not find work or resources, so they would stand on the corners with ‘cap in hand’ begging for help. Mayor Bloomberg needs a lesson in being ‘Politically Correct’”.
Background Reading:
Key to Hailing a Cab in NYC: Tip Well and Hide Your Wheelchair
One Wheelchair User’s Ordeal in Hailing an Accessible NYC Taxi
Tom Scott
Web Editor
Very short sighted. Not everyone will suffer an SCI or MS, but if we’re lucky, we’ll all get older and most likely will need to use a wheelchair at some point in our lives. Much of the population will potentially have a surgery or procedure that might require the use of a wheelchair for several months or longer. Not everyone will be as wealthy as Bloomburg that will be able to afford a personal car and driver to transport from hospital to home.
Also, what about tourists and business travelers?
This issue isn’t just about the most obvious wheelchair users, this is about any one at any time that might need accessible transportation.
Please people get with the 21st Century! My son did not attend a special event in N YC to see his wife sing at Carnige Hall, just because of issues like this! Abnormal people’s think inking make it hard for us normal wheelchair people (my son) to fully enjoy his family life, even kept their two daughters in school because Dad would not be able to manuver “Bloombergs City”!
Thank you