MV-1 accessible vehicle

Once again, my friend Michelle does the right thing – she wrote a passionate article outlining the needs and benefits of accessible taxi service.

I would love to have accessible taxi’s in my city. I have always been impressed with cities that I visit that have accessible taxis cruising the streets, along with the non-accessible variety, such as Portland, OR and San Francisco, CA. At more and more of the airports I have landed at in the last few years, it is now possible to get a WC accessible taxi from the airport from the standard taxi line.

Here in my city, it is possible to get a WC accessible taxi leaving the local airport if you are willing to wait a while. There are only a few taxis in the fleet that have ramps to accommodate a wheelchair user who prefers to remain in their chair. Therefore, you have to wait until that taxi has deposited its current passengers and returned to the airport. This is a step up from no accessible taxis.  Michelle’s article points out that accessible taxi’s are needed by community residents as well, not just travelers.  I am lucky enough to drive an adapted vehicle but just like all cars, it can break down.  With the hills around here, getting to our public transit is not always possible from all my destinations.  I would dearly love to be able to call a cab, just as easily as my neighbors or friends.

Read Michelle’s article here.  See the news clip here.  Find the MV-1 here, a vehicle designed for accessible transportation from the ground up, and the vehicle chosen as CT’s new accessible taxi.

I’m all for accessible cabs!  Let’s get more in our neck of the woods!