Hybrid Taxis at the Expense of Accessibility
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s announcement that the city’s yellow taxi fleet will become completely hybrid within five years (news article, May 23) callously ignores the immediate transportation needs of people with severe physical disabilities who cannot enter or exit currently approved hybrid taxi vehicles, as well as New York City’s growing aging population, who are much more likely to acquire a physical impairment.
Despite the availability today of half a dozen minivans that can be modified for easy access for all people, and the continuing development of a factory-built wheelchair accessible sedan that can carry four additional seated passengers, to be available for purchase next year, the mayor chooses to ignore those citizens most in need of disability-friendly taxi service.
Terence J. Moakley, Project Manager, Taxis for All-North America, United Spinal Association, Jackson Heights, New York
The letter above originally appeared in the May 29, 2007, edition of The New York Times and is reprinted by permission.
No Handcyclists Need Apply
It was very disappointing to find out the Traverse City, Michigan, BayShore Marathon organizers did not want any handcycles in their race which was held May 5. After hearing of the event on TV, I tried to enter that very same night but instead got a somewhat nasty e-mail from the race director the next morning. The note said I was not welcome even though apparently they do allow wheelchair racers which is basically the same type of wheeled hand/arm powered vehicle. Handcycles also have about the same footprint as a racing chair and would run any course with similar times and speeds.
It so happens, all the other major marathons in Michigan and elsewhere, like the Fifth-Third River Bank Run in Grand Rapids, the Detroit Marathon, the New York Marathon, the Boston Marathon, the Chicago Marathon, the Crim in Flint and others, not only allow those of us with disabilities to participate but they even aggressively promote entry into these events and even showcase these very capable and enthusiastic racers.
Maybe my money wasn’t green enough for the BayShore and their financial sponsors like Citibank. Or maybe they just didn’t want to see some of their runners get smoked by myself and other wheelers who can go the distance with upper body strength alone? Unfortunately for me, I don’t currently have the ability to run or walk, so I do the best I can with the powers I do have!
Tom D’Ambrosio, Houghton Lake, Michigan
