Want to help make taxis wheelchair-accessible to residents of, and visitors to, the “City of Brotherly Love”—Philadelphia?
Recently, the Philadelphia Parking Authority has announced that it is considering new regulations which will require 300 of the city’s taxis to be wheelchair-accessible by the end of this year. In addition, all of Philadelphia’s taxis would need to be accessible by the end of 2016.
At the current time, there are just two wheelchair-accessible taxis operating in Philadelphia. And, to nobody’s surprise, Philadelphians with disabilities expect that the city’s taxi industry will lobby hard against these proposed rules.
So, if you live, work or visit Philadelphia, or if you are a person with a mobility disability anywhere, or if you are a family member or friend of someone who uses a wheelchair, scooter or other mobility device, here is your chance to make a difference: simply send a brief comment in support of accessible cabs in Philadelphia by e-mail to Charles Milstein, Esq. of the Philadelphia Parking Authority at cmilstein@philapark.org.
There are many benefits to the availability of wheelchair-accessible taxis for mobility-impaired persons. Being a wheelchair user for 44+ years now, and having been a passenger in wheelchair-accessible taxis in American and Canadian cities in recent years, I’m just going to name a few. Accessible cabs are a spontaneous and fast way to move around the built environment, and as such, they are a critical ingredient to enabling more individuals with disabilities to enter the workforce.
While Americans with Disabilities Act paratransit service provides needed travel options for those persons with disabilities who cannot use bus and/or rail service, remember that public transportation does not go everywhere, whereas an accessible taxi service could provide mobility options in smaller communities not served by mass transit.
And then there’s convenience, like the time my spouse and I were stranded in Montreal because all flights back to New York were cancelled by a massive and lengthy thunderstorm. It was a day trip, too, so we had neither luggage nor medical supplies. But we were able to get our wheelchair-accessible taxi back to take us to a nearby hotel with an accessible room. We managed, and the next morning, the same driver and taxi returned us to the airport for an uneventful flight home.
Wheelchair-accessible taxis matter, and they can make a real difference in the lives of disabled folks everywhere, so send your e-mail to Mr. Milstein right now. Make a difference!
Please note: There will also a public hearing being held on the issue at the PPA’s Taxicab and Limousine Division Headquarters at 2415 Swanson Street on February 15 at 10 am. More info can be found here.
Terry Moakley
United Spinal’s Taxi Advocate
