Today a growing number of people rely on electric scooters and related equipment to get around in everyday life. For these travelers, you will find New York is for the most part well-equipped to meet your needs. All of New York City's public buses are equipped with lifts so that wheelchair users can travel anywhere in the city. Individual door-to-door paratransit service is available for people unable to use public bus or subway service. Many subway stations contain elevators, ramps, visual display signs, accessible public telephones, and tactile and audio features on vending machines; passengers with disabilities pay reduced fares on most trips. That said, please note that not every subway station is accessible. Please visit the MTA website or call for more information.
MTA New York City Transit Travel information for people with disabilities:
Tel: (718) 596-8585
TTY: (718) 596-8273
The
Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) works hand-in-hand with other city agencies to assure that the voice of the disabled community is represented and that city programs and policies address the needs of people with disabilities. They have developed a number of informative brochures and directories that detail programs, services, activities, and other resources that are accessible to people with disabilities. They will send the book
Access New York free of charge to people who inquire via telephone at the number listed above. The 100-page large-type book provides resources and specific accessibility reviews for cultural institutions, theaters, nightlife and sports venues, and tours. It is also avaialable for download in PDF format from their website. The
Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality (SATH) at (212) 447-7284, provides extensive educational and resource material to expand travel opportunities not only in New York but also worldwide.
If you wish to ride in a city taxi, note that it is against the law for a taxi cab driver to refuse a person based on race, disability, or a passenger's requested destination in New York City. You can make a refusal complaint by calling 311 (note the driver's taxi medallion/license #). Further, taxicabs are also required to welcome service animals. If the passenger states that the animal is a service animal, then the driver must, regardless of whether the animal is secured or not, allow them in the taxicab. Finally, please note that for people with wheelchairs the taxi driver is required to fold up the wheelchair and place it in the trunk.
If you need more assistance, or wish to arrange for transportation in advance, MTA/New York City Transit operates Access-A-Ride, the city’s paratransit system. Access-A-Ride provides transportation services for people with disabilities who are unable to use buses or subways. The service operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at a cost of $2.00 per trip. Personal Care Attendants accompanying the customer ride free; one paying guest per trip may accompany the customer.
For more information on Access-A-Ride please call or visit their website:
MTA New York City TransitParatransit Division, Department of Buses
2 Broadway 11th Floor
New York, NY 10004
For reservations, applications, and eligibility:
Voice 1 (646) 252-5252; (877) 337-2017
TTY (212) 722-4403
Fax (646) 252-5150
Further below you will find a list of private car services that are wheel-chair accessible.
Finally, if you want to rent a wheelchair, there are several options.
One of the best options is
ScootAround. ScootAround's mission is to provide an easy, convenient way for mature and disabled travelers to enjoy their vacations and other excursions and not have to worry about their personal mobility. By contacting ScootAround through their Internet site or toll free number, they can arrange a scooter rental through their network of dealers all over North America.
ScootAroundT: (888) 441-7575
Wheelchair and scooter rentals.
Seven days a week, 24 hours a day.
Additionally, we know of two other suppliers who will rent wheelchairs here in New York City:
Falk Drug and Surgical Supply 259 E 72nd St
New York, NY, 10021
Tel: 212-744-8080
Fax: 212-737-1521
Big Apple Mobility Tel: (212) 662-4548
• Delivery and pickup to hotels in Manhattan is $20.
• Holidays and weekend delivery rate is $25; holiday and weekend pickup rate is $25.
• Delivery and pickup outside of Manhattan is $50 within 25 miles.
Would you like to request demand-responsive WHEELCHAIR- ACCESSIBLE service? In New York City it is your legal right to do so! Enacted in 2001, the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) For-Hire Vehicle (FHV) Rule 6-07(f) requires each For-Hire Vehicle base station (livery, black car and luxury limousine) to provide wheelchair-accessible service to persons with disabilities upon request, at an equivalent price and service level as non-wheelchair-accessible transportation. This also includes base stations located outside of New York City but licensed by the TLC.
Please feel free to contact any of the following TLC-licensed for-hire vehicle bases for accessible service upon request:
For Livery (Community) Car service, please call:
A Ride for All, LLC
41-10 24th Street
Long Island City, New York 11101
(718) 706-7433
For Black Car service, please call:
Symphony Transportation, LLC
895 Mamaroneck Avenue
Mamaroneck, New York 10543
(800) 253-1443
Vega Transportation Co., Inc. features luxury wheelchair service offering safe and reliable limousine transportation.
89-18 Astoria Boulevard
Flushing, New York 11369
(718) 507-0500
For Luxury Limousine service, please call:
Symphony Transportation, LLC
895 Mamaroneck Avenue
Mamaroneck, New York 10543
(800) 253-1443
Bermuda Limousine Service, Inc. features the AcessAble Vehicle. Chauffeurs are trained to embark and disembark passengers safely and comfortably.
537 West 20th Street
New York, New York 10011
(212) 647-8400
For the deaf and hard of hearing, you may wish to look into the offerings of
Hands On. Hands On is a New York City-based service organization dedicated to providing greater accessibility to arts and cultural events for the Deaf and hard of hearing community. Many theaters have infrared listening devices available to the hearing impaired. The Hands On! Organization arranges sign language interpreting for many cultural events, including museum exhibitions, theater productions and film screenings. The
Theatre Development Fund's Theatre Access Project offers open-caption and sign-interpreted performances for many Broadway and Off-Broadway productions, and also arranges wheelchair access.
Hospital Audiences, Inc. provides an audio description service for blind theatergoers so that they can get a picture of the action taking place on stage. Museums are accessible, with innovative improvements constantly in development. For outdoor lovers, the New York City Parks & Recreation Department provides special seating and parking access to many events in parks citywide. It also runs a network of recreation centers with pools and gyms in all the boroughs.
