Disability advocates today filed an amicus brief in opposition to a lawsuit brought by New York City for-hire vehicle base owners that have violated the Americans with Disabilities Act and the New York City Human Rights Law, by failing to provide wheelchair-users with equivalent service. The lawsuit was filed in opposition to rules passed by the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission on December 13, 2017 to increase the availability of wheelchair accessible vehicles. Starting on July 1, 2018, all for-hire vehicle base owners are required to dispatch at least 5% of their rides in wheelchair accessible vehicles. The new regulations also require the for-hire vehicle industry to provide 25 percent of their rides in wheelchair accessible vehicles by July 1, 2022.

The brief, filed by New York Lawyers for the Public Interest and Mobilization for Justice on behalf of themselves and United Spinal Association and Disabled in Action, underscores the difficulties faced by New Yorkers with disabilities in accessing public transportation and describes how the plaintiffs have failed to comply with existing law. The advocates also call on the City to enforce its existing and newly-adopted regulations which mandate equivalent services, and to increase its oversight and enforcement of the for-hire vehicle access mandates.

Read the official Amicus Brief Press Release.

Read the coverage in Metro and Crain’s, and Crain’s.