Fix New York City’s paratransit system

What if you could no longer take New York City’s buses or subways and every car trip had to be scheduled at least a day in advance, with no spontaneity or flexibility? Could you take advantage of all the opportunities New York has to offer? Could you have a stable job? This is the daily reality for tens of thousands of people who must rely on the MTA’s Access-A-Ride (AAR) paratransit service.

As an education administrator who is blind, I spend a lot of time advocating for students with disabilities in our city. The statistics are grim: Unemployment among the legally blind has hovered around 70 percent since the mid-1990s, and the disability community as a whole faces similarly disproportionate rates. So I must respectfully ask our municipal leaders an honest question: Would you be able to maintain gainful employment if a disability suddenly deprived you of the ability to travel freely?

I’m glad the MTA has a legal commitment and the capital funding to install more elevators on the subway. However, this will not eliminate the need for paratransit for some people who do not have the ability or physical stamina to navigate public transportation. A modern, usable and equitable paratransit system is part of inclusive public transit and must also be funded.

People with disabilities need real choices and meaningful access to contribute to the workforce. The freedom to travel freely will allow those of us with disabilities to live our lives with the same independence and dignity as all other citizens of our city. I am not asking for a kind handout, but rather equal rights and access to rights before the law.

For the uninitiated, more than 35 years ago, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) established that each local municipality with a public transportation system must provide a level of door-to-door paratransit service comparable to that municipality’s fixed-route transportation system. But alas, what federal law defines as “comparable” falls far short of the spontaneity and flexibility needed to maintain a job and participate fully in New York City life.

Under current rules, a vehicle arriving up to 30 minutes late is still deemed to be on time. Each trip must be booked one or two days in advance (before 5 p.m.). Passengers are then limited to assigned pickup times, with no ability to adjust their plans on the day. How can AAR be considered comparable when paratransit customers are denied the same flexibility and real-time spontaneity that every straphanger takes for granted?

The AAR must evolve into a system that allows for real-time planning and same-day adjustments if we are serious about leveling the playing field. Outdated and unsupportable federal standards reflect low expectations that do not meet the modern needs of working New Yorkers.

For years, AAR was this town’s red-headed stepchild; Thank goodness this is no longer the case since recent leaders have valiantly invested in improving paratransit service, but this comes at a cost. We need our state leaders and city partners to show their support by making adequate funding a priority; How can you operate a 21st century paratransit system that builds on legislation, infrastructure and financing models rooted in the last century?

A good paratransit system is an excellent equity investment for our city. Providing New Yorkers with disabilities with safe and reliable transportation options to get to school, work, medical appointments, or simply to enjoy dinner and a show. These daily opportunities pay great dividends for our municipality.

Legislative and municipal leaders must partner with the disability community and the MTA by properly funding paratransit to improve the quality of life for our most vulnerable New Yorkers who cannot safely access buses or the subway. Are our governor and newly elected mayor really ready to invest in an equitable paratransit system that will improve access to opportunities for many people in our city?

Mayor Mamdani, I am a New Yorker calling on you to act; to remedy the various inequalities linked to the draconian rules that govern paratransit. If freedom is the right to choose, then fairness is the path to freedom. Give our city’s citizens with disabilities the freedom to travel – the ability to choose how and when we travel, just like any other person in this city.

Pedulla is a supervisor of educational vision services in New York City Public Schools as well as a former member of the Public Transportation Accessibility Advisory Committee. These opinions are his own and do not represent these organizations.