National Council on Independent Living

Transportation is a critical issue for persons with disabilities, often affecting the opportunity to live independently. Centers for Independent Living, Statewide Independent Living Councils, AARP, The ARC, and The National Council on Disability report that the lack of accessible transportation options is one of the most significant barriers facing people with disabilities. Without accessible and affordable transportation, people with disabilities are prevented from attending school, maintaining employment, traveling within the communities of their choice, and fully participating in the American Dream. Therefore, it is the policy of the National Council on Independent Living to seek a federal standard that requires all taxi fleets to be wheelchair accessible by January 1, 2013 and that the Access Board develop and adopt a minimum standard for universal accessible design of all taxicabs.

While efforts have focused on public bus and train travel, experience has shown that accessible public transit is not always the most convenient, cost effective, or time sensitive solution. People with disabilities are part of the general public and want the very same travel options available to everyone else.

Taxicabs represent a personal travel option. Yet when it comes to honoring the equal access intent of the Americans with Disabilities Act, America's taxicab fleets come up woefully short. All taxi fleets must be accessible to people with disabilities, including those who use mobility devices. Accessible taxicabs will provide a transportation option to persons who have disabilities, including disabled veterans and our aging population.

Currently, many Americans with disabilities are limited to medical transportation. Such practice is unfair, unjust, prohibitively expensive and contrary to the spirit of ADA’s integration mandate. The passage of legislation smoothing the way for the acquisition of wheelchair accessible vehicles will maximize community integration and participation for many of our citizens who currently live without such opportunity. Affordable and accessible taxicab services will ensure that seniors and people with disabilities will age in place, providing greater opportunities to live independently in their existing homes.

To develop legislation around the intent of this policy, we invite all stakeholders in the transportation industry, disability community and government to join with us in structuring legislation to ensure equal access to taxi transportation.

Such an action is not without precedent. Federal, state, and local government regulation currently provides safety, access and price controls within the taxi industry. Requiring equal access to taxi fleets for those using mobility devices is no different than government limiting the age of a vehicle that can be used, the fee that can be charged or stating that no taxi operator or company may discriminate against serving passengers based on their race, religion, sex, or ethnic origin. Equal access to America’s private transportation fleets is a matter of fundamental fairness whose time has come.