I was uber happy today to find out about the class action lawsuit that United Spinal Association, wheelchair users, and a number of disability rights organizations have brought against New York City.

The longstanding issue of accessible taxis in NYC may finally be coming to a head.

In these times lawsuits are as plentiful as taxis on a New York City Street. Abundance in fact is part of the problem. Plenty of taxis but precious few accessible ones. Indeed, there are miles of cabs in New York City, and most of them are of no use to wheelchair users who can not get in and out of them.

You may as well paint your wheelchair yellow and start humping down the avenue since that’s likely the only way you’re going to get a ride in anything that resembles a cab. You might even make a few bucks by picking up a lap passenger.

The only way commuters will ever get a fair shake on this problem (notice I said “commuters” not wheelchair user) is for people and organizations to band together and force the issue. It’s not at all about modern society’s joie de lawsuits. Hell, they’re not even asking for money in this deal.

Wheelchair users and disability organizations have for years tried more gentler means than legal action. They have opened countless dialogues with the powers that be. They have discussed, negotiated, protested, informed, educated, scolded, lectured, begged, and even kissed “A” in an attempt to obtain equitable consideration. There does however come a time when there are no more avenues to roll down and the only thing left to do is to go from kissing “A” to kicking it.

This is not about wheelchair users or disability. This is about doing the right thing. It’s about communities and government doing the right thing for people whether they walk or roll down the streets of their hometowns.

I wish them good hunting and quick success in this undertaking.

Ziggi

Read lawsuit details.