Schneiderman applauds city for agreement with disability advocates on yellow cabs
Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman on Friday applauded New York City’s agreement to dramatically increase the number of accessible cabs. The agreement, which settles a class-action lawsuit brought by advocates for the disabled, means that half of the city’s 13,000 yellow cabs will be accessible to people with disabilities by 2020.
In April, a federal court cleared the way for a major class-action lawsuit brought by New Yorkers who use wheelchairs to challenge the Taxi of Tomorrow. Judge Daniels of the Southern District of New York District Court allowed plaintiffs to supplement and amend their complaint to include challenges to the legality of the Taxi and Limousine Commission’s (TLC) selection of the Nissan NV200 van as the exclusive taxi vehicle of New York City for the next decade.
The NV200 van is not accessible to New York City’s 170,000 residents with mobility disabilities who use wheelchairs, the suit alleged. Plaintiffs’ supplemental amended complaint alleges that use of the NV200 van as a taxi vehicle violates the Americans with Disabilities Act.