Alejandra’s riding Story
Discussion
I’ve lived in New York City my whole life (I’m 37), I have cerebral palsy and I’ve been a wheelchair user my whole life.
I rely mostly on public transportation, but I’ve only been a Subway rider since 2008. I’ve lucked out where I live because the station close to me is accessible, but the system as a whole is only about 24% accessible. Last Spring, two federal lawsuits were filed against the Metropolitan Transport Authority on Subway accessibility by disability advocates, but they will take a while to work their way through the courts.
Our buses are accessible, but in New York City traffic, it can take you an hour on a bus to travel a mile.
No matter what form of transportation I take, I have to plan far in advance and figure out which elevators are in service and which aren’t. Because of liability issues, if I get stuck underground I have to call 911 instead of receiving help from MTA staff or police.
I do use accessible taxis, and they are slowly becoming more available. If I call 311, I’m routed to an accessible dispatch. And I’m part of a pilot program where I can call an accessible taxi and pay a fare similar to what I would pay for paratransit.
I believe that autonomous vehicles would be helpful to me. I would absolutely be interested in using them. I’m worried that the cost would be prohibitive, especially with modification costs if they weren’t accessible to begin with. But my other concerns are about safety — as a wheelchair user, in case of a technical problem I would be very vulnerable.
My questions for the automakers: Are you thinking about my accessibility? What is the control interface like? Would I be able to use them? Who is testing them out? I want to know that we are part of the conversation.
The affordability of accessible vehicles is a huge problem — it’s basically a penalty structure, and we’re the ones paying the penalty. If more companies were making vehicles that were designed with accessibility in mind from the beginning, then more people would be able to buy them.
I have been involved with many advocacy projects over the course of my life. I see transportation as a space where I could start applying my effort as an advocate, because I see how it impacts my life every day. It was advocates working together when I was an infant to create the transportation network I use today, as imperfect as it is. If we apply ourselves now, we can make even more progress on this issue for the next generation.
ETA
Sorry not allowed.
I rely mostly on public transportation, but I’ve only been a Subway rider since 2008. I’ve lucked out where I live because the station close to me is accessible, but the system as a whole is only about 24% accessible. Last Spring, two federal lawsuits were filed against the Metropolitan Transport Authority on Subway accessibility by disability advocates, but they will take a while to work their way through the courts.
Our buses are accessible, but in New York City traffic, it can take you an hour on a bus to travel a mile.
No matter what form of transportation I take, I have to plan far in advance and figure out which elevators are in service and which aren’t. Because of liability issues, if I get stuck underground I have to call 911 instead of receiving help from MTA staff or police.
I do use accessible taxis, and they are slowly becoming more available. If I call 311, I’m routed to an accessible dispatch. And I’m part of a pilot program where I can call an accessible taxi and pay a fare similar to what I would pay for paratransit.
I believe that autonomous vehicles would be helpful to me. I would absolutely be interested in using them. I’m worried that the cost would be prohibitive, especially with modification costs if they weren’t accessible to begin with. But my other concerns are about safety — as a wheelchair user, in case of a technical problem I would be very vulnerable.
My questions for the automakers: Are you thinking about my accessibility? What is the control interface like? Would I be able to use them? Who is testing them out? I want to know that we are part of the conversation.
The affordability of accessible vehicles is a huge problem — it’s basically a penalty structure, and we’re the ones paying the penalty. If more companies were making vehicles that were designed with accessibility in mind from the beginning, then more people would be able to buy them.
I have been involved with many advocacy projects over the course of my life. I see transportation as a space where I could start applying my effort as an advocate, because I see how it impacts my life every day. It was advocates working together when I was an infant to create the transportation network I use today, as imperfect as it is. If we apply ourselves now, we can make even more progress on this issue for the next generation.
ETA
Sorry not allowed.
Edited by Big Al. on Sunday 30th June 14:07
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