Power Grid Blog
10% is not enough!
May 31, 2012 | Sarah Hillware
By: Sarah Hillware, AAPD External Affairs
Imagine what it would be like to only have 10% of something…
Not enough, is it?
Well, the DC City Council thinks that requiring a mere 10% of taxicabs to be wheelchair accessible is OK.
Under the Wheelchair Accessible Taxicabs Parity Amendment Act of 2011, 10% of every taxicab company’s cabs will be required to be accessible to those in wheelchairs and scooters, as long as they are less than 600 lbs., under 30 inches wide and 48 inches long. While this is a small step in the right direction, it is not enough. 3 million people in the United States utilize scooters or wheelchairs. People with disabilities disproportionately lack access to reliable transportation already. DC is no exception: there have been a number of complaints in DC’s MetroAccess program, which is currently an alternative to taxis.
Likewise, in recent history, the DC Taxicab industry has come under fire about its treatment of those with disabilities in general. The Equal Rights Center reported that DC cab drivers have discriminated against those with guide dogs 60% of the time. This is not acceptable.
It is time to draw the line.
What would it be like if only 1 in 10 cabs stopped for YOU?
People with disabilities are not second-class citizens. Access to transportation is a civil right. Access to 10% of cabs simply isn’t a reliable transportation option.
Would you like a 10% chance of making it to your interview on time? We didn’t think so.
We must speak up and demand more than 10%.
Let’s ask the DC City Council, “What about the remaining 90%?”
Contact the DC City Council and tell them that 10% is not enough.
http://www.aapd.com/take-action/speak-out/
AAPD and The Leadership Conference released a report about transportation equity. Read it here: http://www.aapd.com/resources/publications/transportation-disabilities.pdf
Comments
Submitted by jeanwheels at 12:06 PM on July 14, 2012