Feds Make Case For Accessible Taxis
Federal prosecutors in New York say the city’s lack of wheelchair-accessible taxis is a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
In a federal court filing Thursday, U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said he supports efforts by disability advocates who sued the city earlier this year over the inaccessibility of many cabs.
Currently, New York does not require taxis to accommodate wheelchairs and just 232 of the city’s 13,237 cabs do so.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Bharara told the judge that New York should not be allowed to continue to violate the ADA by offering cabs that all residents cannot utilize.
Officials at the city’s Taxi and Limousine Commission told The New York Times that the lawsuit is unnecessary, arguing that a new dispatch system expected within six months should ensure service for those with disabilities.
Read more stories like this one. Sign up for Disability Scoop's free email newsletter to get the latest developmental disability news sent straight to your inbox.