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The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) announced on Feb. 14 that as of Oct. 31, wheelchair-accessible vehicle service will be available to users of for-hire vehicles. "For-hire vehicles are livery cars that have been pre-booked. In other words, you cannot wave a for-hire vehicle that is wheelchair accessible off the street, you would need to phone ahead to book it," says Allan J. Fromberg, deputy commissioner of public affairs at the TLC.
With this latest initiative, more disabled New Yorkers will be able to access more of the city. And by 2003, the TLC is hoping to make all medallion cabs wheelchair accessible. |
Finding the Special Spot
Access to disabled cars and parking make the city more accessible to the disabled. The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles has a web page with information on how to obtain license plates and parking permits that allow individuals with severe disabilities to use specially-marked parking spots. Parking reserved for people with disabilities is not merely a convenience, it is a legal requirement. New York City residents who want to apply for these permits should contact the NYC Department of Transportation, Bureau of Parking and Permits, 7th Floor, 28-11 Queens Plaza North, Long Island City, NY 11101, 718-433-3100  |
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the moment there are not many taxis in New York City that are wheelchair
accessible. But with more and more pressure to improve access for
the disabled, this is slowly changing. 
he
New York City Mayor, Rudolf Giuliani, and the City Council have
budgeted $1million to facilitate the purchase or retrofit of accessible
vehicles. And research is being carried out by the TLC to make medallion
taxicabs (yellow cabs) wheelchair accessible. Out of the $1 million
budget, some money will be available to the medallion taxicab industry
as well as the for-hire vehicle industry to reimburse owners for
the purchase of accessible vehicles. 
