Link to final presentation for Transportation X: Advocation for Transportation!
– New York Cities Final Presentation
Phase 1: Research
Identify a context: Where or with whom will you start your inquiry?
We will start our inquiry with the accessibility of public transportation in New York City to those with disabilities.
https://ny.curbed.com/2017/9/21/16315042/nyc-subway-wheelchair-accessible-ada
https://ny.curbed.com/2017/9/21/16315042/nyc-subway-wheelchair-accessible-adaSecondary research:
What is the current state of your context? What research has already been done on this context? How could these findings direct possible future scenarios?
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Currently, there are only 114 out of 427 subway stations (24%) in New York City that are accessible for those with disabilities.
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List of accessible stations: http://web.mta.info/accessibility/stations.htm
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List of accessible stations in Manhattan: https://wheelchairtravel.org/new-york-city/public-transportation/
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https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/02/11/nyregion/nyc-subway-access.html
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A New York Times analysis discovered that out of the 550,000 residents in the city who have difficulty walking, two-thirds of them live far away from an accessible subway station. Most people with disabilities usually have to rely on an inefficient bus system or the Access-A-Ride program, a paratransit service run by the city and the MTA.
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For example, Francisco Paz, who has a mobility disability, commutes from Queens to Staten Island on a daily basis for his job. “I have had several instances where taking public transportation was near to impossible,” Paz said. “I don’t have any accessible train stations near me, and the bus stops are remote and out in the open, exposed to the elements.”
https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2017/sep/21/access-denied-disabled-metro-maps-versus-everyone-elses
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More than three quarters of the city’s 472 subway stations don’t have “elevators, lifts or other methods that make them accessible for people who use wheelchairs, mobility devices or are otherwise unable to use stairs.”
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An MTA spokesperson, meanwhile, told the Times that the agency is “committed to serving the needs of disabled customers,” and would be spending upwards of $1 billion to bring 25 more stations into compliance with the federal disabilities act. The agency also plans to put $334 million toward replacing existing elevators and escalators. It would, they say, cost another $10 billion to bring the rest of the system in line with federal law.
Challenges:
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Need more working elevators to more subway stations in all five boroughs.
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Providing access to all lines instead of just certain ones at subway stations that are already accessible.
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Creating a better guide to finding the elevators in a crowded city.
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Shortening the commute time for those who are disabled.
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Making the commute for those who are disabled a lot easier in general.
Interview with MTA Worker at 14th Street-Union Square Station:
1. Do you think the station is easily accessible for those with disabilities?
This station, yes. We have an elevator and an escalator. For most of the stations, as far as the L train is concerned, you have to exit out the opposite side.
2. From your experience, have you ever had times when you had to help someone who was disabled?
All the time. I never refuse anybody, even if they don’t look disabled. You never know, you can’t see a disability. Make sure someone gets help–that’s all that matters.
3. What should someone with a disability do when the elevators aren’t in service?
The alternative would be, either A. we would help them get to the L train to take them to another station, or B. we would call 911. They would have the fire department come and help them up or down the stairs.
4. How do those with disabilities enter into the station?
As long as there’s an elevator to come down–there’s little maps that most people with disabilities already have that tells them what station is handicapped ready for them. For the most part, most of the gates are automatic. If not, someone would just push it open for them, either an employee or whoever is with them.
5. What do you think the station can do better for those who are disabled?
I would say probably some more stations to make it more handicapped accessible, which they’re working on now. But I can’t say where or when.