Judge George Daniels has ruled that meaningful access to the NYC taxi system is required.  Plaintiffs Christopher Noel, Simi Linton, United Spinal, The Taxis for All Campaign, Disabled in Action brought a civil rights class action suit against The New…

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Judge George Daniels has ruled that meaningful access to the NYC taxi system is required.

 Plaintiffs
Christopher Noel, Simi Linton, United Spinal, The Taxis for All
Campaign, Disabled in Action brought a civil rights class action suit
against The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission, and
Commissioner David Yassky.  Disability Rights Advocates represented the plaintiffs.

 Judge
Daniels ruling calls for “meaningful access” to taxis for people who
are disabled. Though he does not define precisely what that means, he
writes:

 ”It
is clear, however, that less than 2% of the city’s fleet being
wheelchair accessible, resulting in the unavailability of taxi
transportation and significantly increased waiting times for disabled
persons who require wheelchairs, is not meaningful access. In fact,
during oral argument, the TLC conceded that its regulations do not
provide meaningful access to individual who require wheelchairs. It must
do so.”

 In a footnote, he also writes:

 ”…meaningful
access for the disabled to public transportation services is not a
utopian goal or political promise, it is a basic civil right. Title II
requires immediate and full compliance.”

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