NYC Wheelchair Accessible Taxis: Harkin's ADA Appeal
Author: United States Senate
Published: 2011/02/05 - Updated: 2026/02/06
Publication Type: Announcement
Category Topic: Public Transport - Related Publications
Contents: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates
Synopsis: This announcement documents Senator Tom Harkin's formal appeal to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg regarding the city's "Taxi of Tomorrow" project, advocating for wheelchair accessible taxis across NYC's entire 13,000-vehicle fleet. The content is authoritative as it presents the actual correspondence from Senator Harkin, the author of the Americans with Disabilities Act, directly to city leadership, complete with specific policy recommendations and historical context about NYC's limited 230 accessible taxis at the time. This information proves valuable for disability advocates, wheelchair users, transportation planners, and policymakers who need documented evidence of legislative efforts to improve accessible transportation infrastructure in major metropolitan areas, particularly as it establishes a framework for ADA compliance standards that could influence taxi accessibility requirements nationwide - Disabled World (DW).
Introduction
Choosing Wheelchair Accessible Taxis for NYC
Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), a longtime champion of disability rights, this week urged New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to select a wheelchair accessible taxi in the city's "Taxi of Tomorrow" competition with the goal of making taxis and the city itself friendlier to people with disabilities. New York City is currently in the process of selecting a new design for their fleet of 13,000 taxis.
"I have also learned that the City is putting great emphasis on making its future taxi fleet wheelchair accessible by dramatically increasing the number of accessible vehicles from the limited 230 taxis that are accessible today," Harkin said a letter sent to Mayor Bloomberg.
"Through this process, New York can set the standard for accessibility for taxis across the nation. Indeed, New York could be the first city in the world to have a fully accessible taxi fleet. I hope you will take advantage of this opportunity to choose a Taxi of Tomorrow with a built-in wheelchair ramp system in every vehicle. Assuming that other features and elements of the competing models are roughly comparable, I urge you to select the taxi which would set the standard of accessibility and ADA compliance for the nation and the world."
Main Content
Harkin has long been a champion of persons with disabilities and a leader on disability policy. In 1990, he authored the Americans with Disabilities Act, landmark legislation that protects the civil rights of more than 50 million Americans with physical and mental disabilities. He has since been one of the strongest supporters in Congress for full funding the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), community-based health care services and supports, and other initiatives that enable people with disabilities to live independently.
The full text of Harkin's letter to Mayor Bloomberg is below:
The Honorable Michael Bloomberg Mayor City Hall New York, NY 10007
Dear Mayor Bloomberg:
I understand that New York City is in the process of selecting a new design for the City's 13,000 taxis under the "Taxi of Tomorrow" project.
I have also learned that the City is putting great emphasis on making its future taxi fleet wheelchair accessible by dramatically increasing the number of accessible vehicles from the limited 230 taxis that are accessible today.
As the Senate champion of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), I commend you on this important effort. Through this process, New York can set the standard for accessibility for taxis across the nation. Indeed, New York could be the first city in the world to have a fully accessible taxi fleet.
I hope you will take advantage of this opportunity to choose a Taxi of Tomorrow with a built-in wheelchair ramp system in every vehicle. Assuming that other features and elements of the competing models are roughly comparable, I urge you to select the taxi which would set the standard of accessibility and ADA compliance for the nation and the world.
By selecting a fully-accessible Taxi of Tomorrow, you could take great pride that New York's decision would represent an historic step forward in advancing the cause of disability rights in the U.S. and around the world. If you or your staff have any questions or would like to discuss this issue, please contact Andrew Imparato, Senior Counsel and Disability Policy Director for the Senate HELP Committee.
Sincerely,
Tom Harkin Chairman
cc:
The Honorable Matthew Sapolin Commissioner Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities
The Honorable David Yassky Commissioner New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission
Insights, Analysis, and Developments
Editorial Note: While this correspondence dates to 2011 during NYC's taxi modernization initiative, the fundamental tension it highlights between accessibility ideals and implementation realities remains relevant for cities worldwide still grappling with accessible transportation. Harkin's vision of New York becoming the first major city with a fully accessible taxi fleet represented an ambitious goal that would have set a global precedent, yet the incremental progress since then underscores how transportation equity for wheelchair users continues to require sustained advocacy, creative policy solutions, and political will that extends beyond initial promises to actual deployment on city streets - Disabled World (DW).Attribution/Source(s): This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by United States Senate and published on 2011/02/05, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.