Apparition
13th January 2011, 06:58 PM
(Reuters) - New York City taxis are facing a class-action lawsuit accusing the fleet of failing to provide enough access to passengers who use wheelchairs.
The lawsuit, the first of its kind in the United States, was filed in Manhattan federal court on Thursday on behalf of a coalition that advocates for rights of people with disabilities.
According to the suit, only about 1.8 percent of New York City's 13,237 taxis are accessible to wheelchair-bound passengers.
The lawsuit seeks no damages but aims to have the court acknowledge that the city's Taxi and Limousine Commission violates local and federal laws by not providing more wheelchair-accessible taxis.
The suit comes as the commission is poised to select a new model which will replace the city's entire fleet of taxicabs. Among the requirements specified by the city for the new model is wheelchair accessibility.
Chris Noel, a member of the coalition of groups and individuals that filed the suit, said in a statement he has faced extreme difficulties getting cabs since he became handicapped.
"I have been using a wheelchair for almost ten years. I remember how easy it was for me to hail a cab when I was not using my wheelchair. But now, because there are so few taxis I can use, I often wait for an hour or more before an accessible taxi even passes me," he said.
TLC spokesman Allan Fromberg said the commission had made an effort to accommodate handicapped passengers but said it was not bound by law to do so.
"We have made tremendous strides over the years in improving transportation options for persons with disabilities, which we continue to prioritize," he said. "At the same time, no federal or local law requires that taxicabs be accessible to people with wheelchairs, and, in fact, the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) specifically exempts taxicabs from the requirement."
The suit notes that the taxi commission is not legally bound to choose a wheelchair-accessible model for the new fleet, but the transition would be "a golden opportunity for the TLC to introduce accessible cars with minimal administrative burden and at minimal cost to drivers and medallion holders," said Edith Prentiss of the Taxi's for All Campaign.
(Reporting by Bernd Debusmann Jr., Editing by Greg McCune)
Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE70C5WJ20110113
Accommodate me or I'll sue! How lovely.
The Americans with Disabilities Act again enables grievance hustlers to extort and enslave others for whatever stupid reasons.
The lawsuit, the first of its kind in the United States, was filed in Manhattan federal court on Thursday on behalf of a coalition that advocates for rights of people with disabilities.
According to the suit, only about 1.8 percent of New York City's 13,237 taxis are accessible to wheelchair-bound passengers.
The lawsuit seeks no damages but aims to have the court acknowledge that the city's Taxi and Limousine Commission violates local and federal laws by not providing more wheelchair-accessible taxis.
The suit comes as the commission is poised to select a new model which will replace the city's entire fleet of taxicabs. Among the requirements specified by the city for the new model is wheelchair accessibility.
Chris Noel, a member of the coalition of groups and individuals that filed the suit, said in a statement he has faced extreme difficulties getting cabs since he became handicapped.
"I have been using a wheelchair for almost ten years. I remember how easy it was for me to hail a cab when I was not using my wheelchair. But now, because there are so few taxis I can use, I often wait for an hour or more before an accessible taxi even passes me," he said.
TLC spokesman Allan Fromberg said the commission had made an effort to accommodate handicapped passengers but said it was not bound by law to do so.
"We have made tremendous strides over the years in improving transportation options for persons with disabilities, which we continue to prioritize," he said. "At the same time, no federal or local law requires that taxicabs be accessible to people with wheelchairs, and, in fact, the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) specifically exempts taxicabs from the requirement."
The suit notes that the taxi commission is not legally bound to choose a wheelchair-accessible model for the new fleet, but the transition would be "a golden opportunity for the TLC to introduce accessible cars with minimal administrative burden and at minimal cost to drivers and medallion holders," said Edith Prentiss of the Taxi's for All Campaign.
(Reporting by Bernd Debusmann Jr., Editing by Greg McCune)
Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE70C5WJ20110113
Accommodate me or I'll sue! How lovely.
The Americans with Disabilities Act again enables grievance hustlers to extort and enslave others for whatever stupid reasons.