Chicago Taxi Fleet Adds 50 Wheelchair Accessible MV-1s
Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 2016/07/07 - Updated: 2024/06/18
Publication Type: Announcement
Topic: Public Disability Transport - Publications List
Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main
Synopsis: Chicago to add approximately 50 MV-1 wheelchair-accessible taxis to boost public transportation options for Chicago area residents with disabilities.
• Adding MV-1 taxis to the Chicago fleet will improve the quality of life for many people with disabilities. Convenient, affordable, safe and reliable transportation is a critical need for more than half a million people with disabilities living in the Chicago area.
Introduction
The city of Chicago will add approximately 50 MV-1 wheelchair-accessible taxis to its fleet over the next several weeks to boost public transportation options for the more than 600,000 Chicago-area residents with disabilities.
Main Item
Mobility Ventures LLC, designer and manufacturer of MV-1, the only purpose-built, wheelchair-accessible vehicle and city officials announced the fleet expansion.
The agreement increases the total number of MV-1s in Chicago taxi fleets to more than 100, helping to fulfill a pledge by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP), and the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities to double the number of wheelchair-accessible taxis in the city by the end of 2018.
"Adding MV-1 taxis to the Chicago fleet will improve the quality of life for many people with disabilities," said Pat Kemp, executive vice president, Mobility Ventures. "Convenient, affordable, safe and reliable transportation is a critical need for more than half a million people with disabilities living in the Chicago area."
To meet the city's goal, taxi licensees in Chicago who own at least 10 medallions will be required to devote 10 percent of their fleet to wheelchair-accessible vehicles by 2018. Previously, taxi licensees with 20 medallions needed 5 percent of their fleet to be wheelchair-accessible.
The MV-1 is the ideal vehicle for taxi licensees who serve wheelchair users because vehicle features such as spaciousness and ramp length were influenced by wheelchair users. Chicago taxi operators with MV-1s already in service agree. According to Demetrios Manolitsis, owner of Ionian Taxi Service:
"We chose the MV1 for our fleet for multiple reasons. The first and most important is that it is factory built, not retrofitted. And the wheelchair ramp comes with two options: automatic or manual. But my favorite thing about the vehicle is the ability to sit multiple passengers comfortably with a lot of luggage. The driver prefers the MV1 because of its durability and flexibility."
Related Information
- MV-1 The Accessible Taxi of Tomorrow: The MV-1 is the first mobility vehicle designed to provide accessible transportation to fleets municipalities and individuals with physical challenges.
- 2014 Production Launch of Accessible MV-1 Vehicle: Mobility Ventures LLC launches production of 2014 MV-1 universally accessible vehicle with vehicles currently being processed for shipment to its nationwide MV-1 dealer network.
- First Factory Built MV-1 Mobility Vehicle Rolls Off Production Line: MV-1 is the first mobility vehicle factory built and assembled which meets or exceeds vehicle guidelines of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
- NYC Adds 147 New MV-1's to Access-A-Ride Fleet: New York City Metropolitan Transportation Authority adds another 147 new MV-1s to its Access-A-Ride fleet.
- New Wheelchair Accessible MV-1 Empire Taxi for NYC: Fully wheelchair accessible the MV-1 Empire Taxi provides more legroom and luggage space than other taxi vehicles operating in New York City.
- MV-1 Is the First Factory Built Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle: A new American car company and manufacturer of the MV-1, is launching a national road show, The MV-1 Wheels Across America Tour.
- Debut of First Factory-Built Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Coincides With ADA 20th Anniversary: Vehicle features deployable access ramp with a 1,200-pound capacity spacious 36-inch entryway and roomy interior.