Paratransit Access-A-Ride

Living as I do so close to the entrance street to the Midtown Tunnel, I am very aware of all the Paratransit Access-A-Ride vehicles that come flying through here..

You really have to watch out for them, they have absolutely no consideration for pedestrians at all! Ironic, considering they are carrying people who have disabilities in getting around-- the only vehicles which are worse in terms of recklessness towards pedestrians are those of the Postal Service.

Around here, your other worry as a pedestrian is the people on bicycles. They ride on sidewalks, ride the wrong way against traffic ( you can get blindsided by them if you are not always looking) and they zoom down the bike lanes with a get-outta-my-way world attitude. Needless to say, they really push the envelope all the time when it comes to running red lights..

But back to Access-A-Ride. No reviews or anything, disappointingly all I could find was this from the City:

The Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) works hand-in-hand with other city agencies to assure that the voice of the disabled community is represented and that city programs and policies address the needs of people with disabilities. They have developed a number of informative brochures and directories that detail programs, services, activities, and other resources that are accessible to people with disabilities. They will send the book Access New York free of charge to people who inquire via telephone at the number listed above. The 100-page large-type book provides resources and specific accessibility reviews for cultural institutions, theaters, nightlife and sports venues, and tours. It is also avaialable for download in PDF format from their website. The Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality (SATH) at (212) 447-7284, provides extensive educational and resource material to expand travel opportunities not only in New York but also worldwide.

If you wish to ride in a city taxi, note that it is against the law for a taxi cab driver to refuse a person based on race, disability, or a passenger's requested destination in New York City. You can make a refusal complaint by calling 311 (note the driver's taxi medallion/license #). Further, taxicabs are also required to welcome service animals. If the passenger states that the animal is a service animal, then the driver must, regardless of whether the animal is secured or not, allow them in the taxicab. Finally, please note that for people with wheelchairs the taxi driver is required to fold up the wheelchair and place it in the trunk.

If you need more assistance, or wish to arrange for transportation in advance, MTA/New York City Transit operates Access-A-Ride, the city’s paratransit system. Access-A-Ride provides transportation services for people with disabilities who are unable to use buses or subways. The service operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at a cost of $2.00 per trip. Personal Care Attendants accompanying the customer ride free; one paying guest per trip may accompany the customer.

For more information on Access-A-Ride please call or visit their website:

MTA New York City Transit
Paratransit Division, Department of Buses
2 Broadway 11th Floor
New York, NY 10004

For reservations, applications, and eligibility:
Voice 1 (646) 252-5252; (877) 337-2017
TTY (212) 722-4403
Fax (646) 252-5150