You can’t really expect too much consideration for human rights from the able-bodied billionaire mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg–that’s not how you get ahead in politics or finance. Just today, the United Spinal Association sent out a call asking people to talk back to the ethically challenged politician, who
stated that “it’s too dangerous” for wheelchair users to hail a cab in New York City and that most drivers would “pretend they didn’t see them”. He also said wheelchair users “sit too far from the driver to establish a dialogue” and therefore “they would not tip well”.
Calling physically disabled people a burden and cheap during the same interview? From the guy who insists that all Occupy Wall Street protesters are “trying to do is take away the jobs of people working in the city,” it’s not the most surprising thing ever.
Bloomberg, who admits that he doesn’t actually take cabs himself, elaborates: “You just can’t take a wheelchair out into the street and try and hail a cab.” He’s right about that as it stands, since only 231 of the city’s 13,000 taxis are wheelchair-accessible (that’s less than 2%). But it’s unfair and totally backwards. As United Spinal argues, “this fight reaches far beyond the city’s front lines. If NYC creates an equitable system of accessible public transportation then other cities both small and large will follow.”
The Taxis for All Campaign has some really convincing quotes from people who want 100% accessibility:
“When the hospital called me at 2 a.m. to say that my mom was dying, I had to wait until the buses started running at 7 a.m. to go see her because there were no cabs available.”
“When my wheelchair died, I had no way to get back home. I was stranded. I needed an accessible taxi.”
“It was very difficult arriving at the airport. There were no wheelchair accessible taxis available. I had to be carried into a van by four people and my wheelchair had to be manhandled into a van as well, only to get into Manhattan to get to my hotel.”
Want to let the mayor know how you feel? Have at it here.