Judge Formally Approves Deal For Wheelchair-Accessible NYC Taxis
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) - Citing a historic baseball moment as comparable, a New York judge has formally approved a deal making at least half the city's taxi fleet wheelchair-accessible by 2020.
Federal Judge George Daniels approved the deal Tuesday. He said the plan to make taxis accessible to the disabled was one of the most significant acts of inclusion in New York City since baseball great Jackie Robinson joined the Brooklyn Dodgers.
The judge said the deal makes the city better.
The agreement reached late last year settles a lawsuit brought in 2011 by advocacy groups for people with disabilities. It came at a time when only about 200 of the city more than 13,000 yellow cabs were outfitted to accommodate wheelchairs.
In a release, wheelchair users said accessible taxis will greatly improve their lives.
New York City Taxi and Limousine Commissioner David Yassky says that for decades they have failed wheelchair users in the city.
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