Transportation

Accessible Taxis and Ride-Sharing Services:

  • Accessible Dispatch: The NYC Accessible Dispatch Program gives residents and visitors with disabilities greater access to green and yellow wheelchair accessible taxis. The program offers a service area that accommodates pick-ups and drop-offs in all five boroughs. To use the service, call 311 from within the five boroughs; call the dispatch center at 646-599-9999; text a request to the dispatch center at 646-400-0789; use Accessible Dispatch’s mobile app, or book online at ridecharge.com.
  • UberWAV: Uber offer options for riders with disabilities. Uber’s “UberWAV” provide wheelchair-accessible vehicles.
  • LyftvAccess Mode: Lyft offer options for riders with disabilities. Lyft’s “Access Mode” provide wheelchair-accessible vehicles.

Air and Medical Transportation:

  • Air Ambulance: Provides professional, worldwide medical flight services, specializing in air ambulance transport, medical escorts, and commercial stretchers for patients in need of critical care and seamless bedside-to-bedside transportation.
  • AirMed International: Offers 24/7 global air ambulance and medical transport services, specializing in critical care, medical evacuations, and patient transfers with a dedicated fleet and experienced flight crews.

Public Transportation Services:

  • MTA Bus Accessibility: MTA buses in the city of New York are accessible to the disabled and users of wheelchairs.  All buses are equipped with a wheelchair ramp and lowered floor or a mechanical lift.  For MTA bus schedules and maps, CLICK HERE.
  • MTA Subway Accessibility: New York City has an extensive underground subway network, one of the largest in the world.  Because the majority of stations were built before the Americans with Disabilities Act took effect in 1990, most stations are not wheelchair accessible. The MTA has a number of tools you can use to plan an accessible trip throughout their system, such as elevator status, and accessible travel guides. To see complete list of accessible stations in the MTA network click HERE.
  • The MTA Reduced-Fare Program: Offers discounted fares on subways, buses, and commuter rails for eligible seniors and people with disabilities, providing greater accessibility and affordability for public transportation in New York.
  • Long Island Rail Road (LIRR): The Long Island Rail Road is a commuter rail network serving areas between Manhattan and the Eastern tip of Long Island.  The LIRR operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including all major holidays.  The network has 124 stations, the majority of which are wheelchair accessible.
  • Metro-North Rail Road: The Metro-North Rail Road is the MTA’s second commuter rail network serving areas within New York and southwestern Connecticut.  Metro-North service goes as far as New Haven, Connecticut.  The network has 122 stations spread across five lines, the majority of which are wheelchair accessible. For more information on the accessibility of Metro-North stations, CLICK HERE to access the MTA’s Metro-North accessibility website.
  • New York City Ferry: NYC Ferry provides New Yorkers a dependable and accessible way to commute and connect in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx along the East River. The state-of-the-art vessels offer comfortable conveniences including charging stations, Wi-Fi and concessions – and they’re the same price as a subway ride. All ferries are wheelchair accessible and service dogs are permitted.
  • Staten Island Ferries: The Ferry operates between the St. George Ferry Terminal on Staten Island and the Whitehall Terminal in Lower Manhattan. The trip is about 25 minutes long. The Ferry is free. Both terminals are equipped with escalators and elevators and operate within ADA guidelines.

Specialized Transportation Services:

  • Able-Ride/Paratransit Program: The Able-Ride/Paratransit Program provides public curb-to-curb transportation through the MTA-Long Island Bus service. The service is available only within Nassau County. AbleRide will pick up the person with a physical disability outside the home and take the individual to visit the doctor, go shopping, and commute to work, or even attend social events.
  • Access-A-Ride (AAR): NYC Metropolitan transportation for people with disabilities. AAR operates 24/7, 365 days a year, throughout the five boroughs of NYC. A vehicle, specific to your needs, will pick you up and take you to your destination.
  • Bee-Line ParaTransit: Bee-Line ParaTransit is a Westchester County shared ride service for which reservations must be made from one to seven days in advance. Westchester County Department of Transportation is required to provide origin-to-destination, curb-to-curb, demand-responsive ParaTransit service that “mirrors” their fixed-route service in terms of service times and areas. The service is a “safety net.” It is only for those persons who do not have the functional capability to ride fixed-route Bee-Line buses.
  • New York State Medicaid Transportation Program: Provides non-emergency medical transportation for eligible Medicaid members, ensuring access to healthcare services through various modes of transport, including public transit, taxis, ambulettes, and specialized medical vehicles.
  • Suffolk County Accessible Transportation (SCAT) Services: Operating since 1994, Suffolk County Accessible Transportation (SCAT) provides curb-to-curb service to individuals with disabilities in Suffolk County.
  • Super Shuttle: This carrier provides wheelchair-accessible buses and vans between all hotels and private residences in Manhattan and JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark airports. Schedule: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Customers who require a lift-equipped vehicle should call at least 24 hours in advance to schedule this service.

Other Accessible Travel Services:

  • AirTrain JFK: The JFK AirTrain is a fully accessible transportation system connecting airport terminals, parking, and public transit. All stations and trains comply with ADA standards, featuring elevators, escalators, and designated wheelchair spaces.
  • NY Waterway: Offers accessible ferry services connecting New York City and New Jersey, with features such as wheelchair-accessible terminals and vessels, including the West Midtown Ferry Terminal and Battery Park City Ferry Terminal
  • Roosevelt Island Tramway: The Roosevelt Island Tramway is a fully accessible aerial tram that runs between Manhattan and Roosevelt Island every 7.5–15 minutes. It operates daily, accepts MTA MetroCards and OMNY, and has elevators for wheelchair users. Service animals are permitted.
  • Sea Streak Ferry: Seastreak ferries provide accessible transportation between New Jersey, New York City, and destinations like Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard. Their vessels offer wheelchair-accessible boarding, spacious seating, and ADA-compliant restrooms.

Transportation Guides

  • MTA Guide to Accessible Transit: This publication is designed to assist you in using the MTA transit network – New York City Transit subways and buses, the Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North Railroad, and the Staten Island Railway. It contains valuable information on accessible stations, the Reduced-Fare Program, the commuter rail and MetroCard Mail&Ride programs, and paratransit services, as well as useful travel tips. Visit their website for updates.
  • Ride Safe: brochure, created by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI), provides essential safety guidelines for wheelchair users and caregivers on proper securement and transportation practices to enhance travel safety.
  • Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle How-To: This guide from the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) provides detailed instructions on how to request a wheelchair-accessible vehicle (WAV) in NYC using mobile apps. It explains the steps for both passengers and drivers to ensure a smooth experience, from booking to completing the ride, and highlights the benefits of using WAV services for those with mobility impairments.

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