TLC Central Dispatch is Failing to Provide Adequate Services to Wheelchair Users
October 23, 2009
Central Dispatch was launched as a two-year pilot program in July 2008 to match scattered wheelchair users looking for a taxi with a limited number of accessible taxis. I was –and remain– very supportive of the concept of the program; I wrote an Op-Ed in the New York Post saying so “(The City Needs Cabs For All” - December 5, 2007). In my article, I raised concerns about how Central Dispatch was being structured—and sadly many of my gripes have proven to be very real problems.
After receiving a number of complaints from wheelchair users who told me that the program was not working a few months into the pilot, I conducted a study between December 2008 and January 2009 to determine how well the two-year pilot program was meeting its own goals and the needs of our city’s 60,000 wheelchair users. I blogged about the results of that study early last summer (”STRANDED: How the TLC is Failing Wheelchair Users,” June 7, 2009).
On October 22nd, I was pleased that NYC Council Transportation Committee Chair John Liu held an oversight hearing to examine how well Central Dispatch is meeting its goals and serving wheelchair users. I gave testimony at that hearing, a copy of which can be downloaded from the Publications page of my blog.
Ultimately, until there are more accessible taxicabs it will remain challenging for the TLC to provide the excellent customer service that wheelchair customers deserve to receive. That is why I sponsor a bill with State Senator Tom Duane (A.7842/S.4861) to mandate that after June 30, 2011, taxi owners may put only accessible taxicabs into service when replacing vehicles that have reached their TLC-mandated retirement age.
How to Save $50 Million a Year …and Improve Access-A-Ride
September 16, 2009
An estimated 60,000 wheelchair-users live in New York City, but only 238 of the 13,000 medallion yellow cabs (less than 2%) are able to accommodate a wheelchair passenger. This is an every day reality for wheelchair users who are often left stranded without access to a key element of New York City’s transportation infrastructure. To address this unequal access to transportation, I sponsor a bill (A.7842/S.4861) with State Senator Tom Duane to require that by 2011, all taxicabs in New York City are accessible to people with disabilities.
My Op-Ed, “Escape from Access-A-Ride,” in the New York Post on Saturday, September 12th pointed out that having a 100% accessible taxi fleet doesn’t just make sense from a civil rights perspective — it could also save millions of dollars for the Access-A-Ride program. These are costs borne by the cash-starved City and MTA budgets. And, not only could we save public dollars, we could do all this and provide a better service for paratransit consumers.
Interviewed on PBS
July 10, 2009
Recently, I was featured in a lengthy interview with Dara Welles on WLIW 21’s “New York Insiders.”
We had a great conversation about what’s next for New York City’s schools, as well as Second Avenue Subway construction issues - and we also discussed broader topics like marriage equality, disability rights, the upheaval in the State Senate, and my own plans for the future.
PBS is linking things strangely, so when you click to see the video of my interview the title will read Suffolk County Legislator Steve Levy - but don’t worry, it’s me.
STRANDED: How the TLC is Failing Wheelchair Users
June 7, 2009
Today, I released my report on how the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission is failing wheelchair users. I will post a more detailed summary of the report’s findings later this week, but for now, click the report cover to download the PDF of the report in full.
The release of the report was covered extensively in local media outlets, including in the New York Daily News article that I am posting below:
Stranded - Daily News Coverage
New Survey - Wheelchair Users and Taxis/TLC Central Dispatch Program
September 5, 2008
As an advocate for a 100% accessible taxi fleet I am attempting to gauge the quality and success of the New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission’s accessible services for people with disabilities, particularly the recently instituted Central Dispatch pilot program for wheelchair accessible taxis and livery vehicles that will last for the next two years. Through Central Dispatch, wheelchair-users can now call 311 and a wheelchair accessible taxi will be sent to their location anywhere in the five boroughs. Pick ups can also be scheduled in advance.
I have created a survey just for wheelchair users that ride in taxis that can be found in the Surveys section of my website, so that you can share your experiences with me. The data collected from this survey will be made public. I ask that if you are a New York City wheelchair user that you fill out the survey every time you ride in a taxi, whether or not you use Central Dispatch for that ride.
(Photo above is from the NYC TLC website.)
