Taxis For All Campaign v. Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC)
New Yorkers Continue Legal Battle for Wheelchair Accessible Taxi FleetIn January 2011, DRA and Sheppard Mullin filed a class action lawsuit against New York City and the New York Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) on behalf of a coalition of people with disabilities, including Taxis For All Campaign, United Spinal Association, 504 Democratic Club, and Disabled In Action, challenging the TLC’s dismal lack of wheelchair-accessible taxis in New York City. When the case was initiated, 231 of the City’s 13,437 yellow taxis – just 1.8% – could accommodate wheelchairs.
Taxis are a critical transportation system in New York City. Locals and visitors alike rely on them for business, leisure, and emergency transport, and for individuals with mobility disabilities, lack of accessible taxis was a barrier to participation in every aspect of city life. The Plaintiffs in the case did not seek damages, demanding only access to this vital transportation network.
In December 2013, Plaintiffs and the City reached a historic settlement agreement to make New York City’s taxi fleet the most accessible in the country and one of the most accessible in the world. The settlement agreement required the TLC to make its yellow medallion taxi fleet 50% wheelchair accessible by the end of 2020. The settlement agreement was approved by the Court in September 2014. In the years since, the increase in the number of accessible yellow taxis has given thousands of people who use wheelchairs the ability to exercise their right to hail a yellow taxi just like everyone else can.
Nevertheless, despite an extension of time to fulfill its obligation, the TLC has not only failed to reach the 50% accessibility threshold, but is seeking to escape its obligation altogether. In February 2024, DRA filed a motion to enforce the settlement agreement and ensure that the TLC complies with its court-ordered commitments. In March 2024, the TLC moved to free itself from its court-ordered obligations, prompting DRA and its partners to file a response challenging this motion in federal court.
Case Files
Press Releases
- March 20, 2024: Disability Groups Respond After City Doubles Down on its Refusal to Meet Its Obligation to Provide Wheelchair-Accessible Taxis
- February 22, 2024: Disability Groups File Motion to Prevent New York City From Shirking Its Obligation to Provide Wheelchair-Accessible Taxis
- September 16, 2014: Judge Approves Historic Settlement: NYC Taxicab Accessibility to Dramatically Increase
- April 30, 2014: Historic Rule Passed; NYC Taxicab Accessibility to Dramatically Increase
- December 6, 2013: NYC and Disability Advocates Announce Landmark Settlement to Dramatically Increase NYC Taxicab Accessibility
- August 28, 2013: New Yorkers With Disabilities File Major Challenge To Bloomberg’s Taxi Of Tomorrow Initiative And Inaccessible Taxi Fleet
- April 8, 2013: Federal Judge Rules New Yorkers with Disabilities can Challenge Taxi of Tomorrow in Lawsuit Seeking Accessible Taxis
- September 25, 2012: Court of Appeals Decision in Noel v. TLC
Media Coverage
- March 12, 2024: Prism Reports
NYC Denies Disabled People More Accessible Transportation - March 5, 2024: Legal Reader
Disability Groups File Motion to Prevent New York City from Shirking Its Obligation to Provide Wheelchair-Accessible Taxis - February 27, 2024: WFHB Bloomington
Disabulletin – State Testing, Medicaid Reform, Menopause, Nursing Homes, and Disability Law - February 25, 2024: amNewYork
Disability Advocates Say NYC Failing to Meet Settlement Agreement on Accessible Taxis - February 23, 2024: Spectrum News NY1
Court Settlement on Accessible Taxis in Jeopardy - February 22, 2024: Disabled World
Disability Groups Fight NYC’s Move to Dodge Wheelchair Taxi Duty - February 22, 2024: New York Times
New York Is Failing to Meet Wheelchair-Access Goal for Cabs, Suit Says - February 21, 2024: New York Daily News
TLC Breaks Promise to Make NYC Yellow Taxis Wheelchair Accessible, Say Advocates - September 21, 2023: The City
TLC Misses Deadline to Make Half of All Taxis Wheelchair Accessible, Again - September 8, 2022: The City
TLC Supercharges Money Pot to Put More Accessible Cabs on Road - March 15, 2022: The City
TLC Blows by Deadline in Struggle to Get 50% of City Taxis Wheelchair Accessible