Senator Tom Harkin (Retired)

January 9, 2017

Honorable Andrew Cuomo

Governor of New York State
Executive Chambers, New York State Capitol Building
Albany, NY 12224
Dear Governor Cuomo:
I write to urge you to make accessibility for people with disabilities a priority as you consider the
authorization of a new transportation option ride sharing across New York State.
In 2011, you played an important role in the history of transportation for people with disabilities
when you championed and signed legislation that required a significant number of accessible
green taxis the first-of-its-kind mandate for taxi accessibility in the nation. Now, you have
another chance to build on this legacy, both in New York City and across New York State.
You set a simple standard with your legislation: Any new transportation system should offer
accessible service as a matter of principle and practice, and new vehicles in an existing system
also should be accessible.
Your work in 2011 signaled a revolution for people with disabilities. Two years later, bolstered
by the precedent you had set, advocates settled a federal lawsuit with the City of New York to
make the yellow taxi fleet 50 percent accessible by 2020. Other cities, such as Philadelphia,
Pittsburgh, and Washington, DC began to follow suit. Unfortunately, much of that progress has
been eroded by ride share companies, such as Uber and Lyft, which offer little, if any,
wheelchair-accessible service, and have documented instances of turning away those who use
service dogs and need other accessibility accommodations. On the other hand, Uber and Lyft
and similar services have the potential to make transportation more convenient and affordable for
many people with disabilities.
As Uber and Lyft seek approval to operate in Albany, Buffalo, and other cities in New York
State, I urge you to include accessibility requirements similar or greater than those you
negotiated for taxis in 2011. These standards should apply to all ride share companies operating
across the state, including New York City, where there are currently no accessibility
requirements for ride share providers. These requirements are critical to the ability of people
with many different kinds of disabilities to enjoy equal access to what is becoming an
increasingly popular and ubiquitous transportation option. As ride share companies become more

and more prevalent, and become a greater share of the transportation network, people with
disabilities should have equal access to the use of their services. Without these requirements,
people with disabilities will be locked out of an important part of the emerging transportation
system throughout New York.
I know that disability advocates across the state look to you for leadership, and are ready to meet
with you and your staff to discuss how to make accessibility a core part of ride share legislation.
I urge you to continue your efforts to make all services in New York available to all of its
citizens. If you would like to discuss this matter, you can reach me through my scheduler, Amy
Beller at Amy.Beller@drake.edu.
With best wishes for the New Year
Yours truly,

Senator Tom Harkin (Retired)