Traveling for the disabled is difficult even when there’s no pandemic to contend with. This group is chronically underserved and forced to make do with limited options for accessible buses, trains and ride hailing services.
COVID-19 has worsened this bad situation, however, compounding increased health risks with a global recession that has shrunk transit options for nearly everyone not driving a personal vehicle. Cities like New York have seen a 40% reduction in transit services and the existing patchwork of paratransit services is now even more difficult to access than ever.
While these facts can be dispiriting, there is cause for hope. Innovation often springs from times of great need, urgency and economic transition. With the right collaborations and mindsets, this moment could spark a renaissance in innovative mobility solutions for people with special needs, the disabled, and wheelchair users.
Have more mobility news that we should be reading and sharing? Let us know! Reach out to Sage Kashner (kashner@ctaa.org).
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