Agreement Means That Half Of All New Taxis Will Be Accessible Within Six Years
Schneiderman: This Agreement Is An Important Step To Ensuring Equal Access To Taxis For All New Yorkers
NEW YORK – Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today applauded New York City’s agreement to dramatically increase the number of accessible cabs. The agreement, which settles a class-action lawsuit brought by advocates for the disabled, means that half of the city’s 13,000 yellow cabs will be accessible to people with disabilities by 2020.
“This agreement is an important step to ensuring equal access to taxis for all New Yorkers, including those with disabilities. Its implementation would also meaningfully address issues under investigation by my office. Upon approval of the accessibility rule, which should not impose new burdens on riders or drivers, my office will consider the suspension of our investigation into taxi accessibility issues.”
Because only a fraction of medallion cabs are wheelchair accessible, Attorney General Schneiderman’s Civil Rights Bureau has been reviewing accessibility requirements under the Americans With Disabilities Act. The bureau sent a letter to U.S. Department of Transportation in relation to this investigation. The letter can be reviewed here.