MTA Riders Using Wheelchairs Face Problems Even on Wheelchair Accessible Buses

Wheelchair users in New York say they often have trouble getting onto buses even if the buses are capable of accommodating them. One source of problems is the training. While the MTA says all drivers are trained on using the equipment, many disabled riders share anecdotes about having to explain to a driver how the equipment works. To accommodate wheelchair users, drivers need to avoid what's called "curbing," where buses don't pull close enough to the sidewalk for the ramp to reach the curb, which makes boarding impossible for some people who can't get down from the curb into the street.

Often the bus is the primary option for a wheelchair user. "Much of the MTA’s subway system is inaccessible to those who can’t use stairs, with just about 23 percent of its stations equipped with elevators," Jeanmarie Evelly writes for City Limits. When equipment is broken or drivers have trouble accommodating disabled riders, they slow down the trip not only for the disabled person but for everyone else on board.