wheelchairs in taxis

I know someone in a chair and I don't think he usually has trouble with yellowcabs. When I've been with him, the driver has always helped by folding and putting it in the trunk then getting it back out.

I can't imagine it being a huge problem--not much different than folks with big strollers to put in the trunk, right?

If you're calling a car service, I would only mention it if to request a driver who can help with the chair.

The guy I know sounds similar to the OP's friend. Can get in and out of the chair on his own. He just flags down a cab, gets in the back, folds the chair and has the driver put it in the trunk. I'm sure if you don't have a somewhat easily folding chair it could be a problem, but I was just offering what I'd seen. I've definitely not noticed chair-accessible cabs.

The access-a-ride vans tend not to run on time from my experience (had an elderly neighbor who took it often). She told me she would just call for a pick-up at a certain time and I'm not sure about a fee.

Arecibo has some SUV's if you need a bigger vehicle. Just tell them you have something too big for a trunk and ask for an SUV. We've done with when taking the dog with us--he rides on the floorboards with us and we stick all our junk and his huge crate in the back of the suburban or whatever comes (the ones we've been in from Arecibo have the back row of seats removed so there's lots of room for stuff like this.) We're usually doing this well before 7am so we've never had any trouble getting the kind of car we ask for, fwiw.

Does being in a wheelchair increase your chances of a yellow cab actually bringing you to Brooklyn? (or even within Brooklyn and not claiming "I'm off duty, heading back to the garage in Manhattan.")

tybur6 wrote: DoctorJ So, someone in a motorized wheelchair would have to just drive down the special lane? If you were going from downtown to the UES/UWS or Brooklyn or Queens. wouldn't your battery be dead? Not to mention really wet if it's raining or very cold if it's winter.

Disabled people in worse climates than this one manage. I believe there are recharging stations too. And of course all public busses designed with an elevator so you can roll onto them directly from the third lane if the weather gets too bad or you're out of power.

I rec'd a timely email today....

The Disabilities Network of New York City is pleased to announce the first-ever, citywide
Accessible Taxi & Livery Forums
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Members of the Disabilities Network of NYC have selected increasing accessible transportation options as a primary concern for New Yorkers with disabilities. In order to address these issues, the Network is partnering with a “blue ribbon” panel of decision-makers and experts from across advocacy, industry and government to examine the past, present and future of accessible taxi/livery service and to answer YOUR questions at Accessible Taxi & Livery Forums in every borough.

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College of Staten Island
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Queens College
65-30 Kissena Blvd, Flushing
Student Union bldg., 4th floor ballroom
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Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus
1 University Plaza at the Spike Lee Screening Room
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Lehman College
Music Building, East Dining Room
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Presented in partnership with Easter Seals, City University of New York, Long Island University, City of New York Taxi & Limousine Commission, Taxis for All Campaign, A Ride For All, Brooklyn Center for Independence of the Disabled, Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities and our Disabilities Network Members.

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At LGA, I think it might not be too hard to get a van in the taxi line. I've been in the line behind folks with tons of luggage several times who needed something bigger than a car and they never waited more than a couple of extra minutes.

When we picked up our dog at LGA we needed a van that didn't have all the seats to fit the massive dog crate (bigger footprint than the average wheelchair). The guy managing the line just got on his radio or phone and we had the appropriate vehicle in a few minutes. I'm not sure if that was a fluke, but it didn't seem too hard other than it being late at night on a day of southern tornadoes (canceling tons of flights) and there just weren't many cabs at the airport.