New York, NY – On December 15, 2021, members of The Elevator Action Group at Rise and Resist, Center for Independence of the Disabled NY (CIDNY), Brooklyn Center for Independence of the Disabled (BCID), Riders Alliance, The People’s MTA and other allies held a rally outside the MTA headquarters at 2 Broadway before their monthly board meeting, demanding that the MTA obey the law.
It has been 31 years since the American with Disabilities Act was passed, and almost 5 years since lawsuits were filed against the MTA regarding accessibility. It is time to sign a legally binding agreement and settle multiple ADA lawsuits to create a roadmap for 100% accessibility.
Here are the demands:
- Encourage MTA leadership to sign a binding legal agreement and settle multiple ADA lawsuits to create a roadmap for 100% accessibility.
- Appoint a disabled riders advocate to the MTA board of directors, preferably someone with experience using Access-A-Ride paratransit service.
- Permanently extend virtual public comments at board meetings to allow disabled people who are unable to attend to weigh in on decisions that affect their lives.
- Appoint a disabled riders advocate to the Mobility Review Board for congestion pricing.
Activists demanded to make public transit 100% accessible at the MTA Board Meeting.
While the MTA has made excuses based on budget and resources, the fact remains that New York City lags behind most other major cities in the country in terms of devoting adequate taxpayer money to creating accessible transit options.
© Erik McGregor – erikrivas@hotmail.com – 917-225-8963