The Importance of a quality transportation system can not be overstated.Our highway system, railroads and airports are essential to economic growth and development and also to the simplistic purpose of moving people from place to place. As the general election approaches, it is important that we foster an effictive dialogue with our public officials regarding the under represented issue of transportation and those being left behind by the current system, particularly those with disabilities.
While, over a third of the country simply hails a car through a transportation network company (TNC) such as Uber with the push of a button to travel quickly and at minimal cost, many members of the disability community are stuck the position of having to schedule rides days or even weeks in advance with little to no assurance of punctuality and a high cost if they require paratransit services.
While we need to continue to move forward by finding innovative solutions that address transportation disaprities, we shouldn't settle for solutions that are leaving people behind.. As it stands the vehicles of transportation network company nd accommodating vehicles are not available and Paratransit is expensive and hard to plan for. Partnerships with TNCs are probably not ideal long term answer but the technology and existing systems can be used in development of more sustainable answers .
State and Localities basically have two viable options in providing ride share services to individuals with disabilities that meet accessibility regulations and are available via smart phone.
The First choice is simply to develop regulations that mandate a certain percentage of a TNCs vehicle fleet meet federal accessibility standards
The second is for the state to leverage technologies similar to those used by Uber and Lyft to to provide a comparable option
While TNCs and taxi companies differ in business structure, they both provide the same type of on-demand service from point A-to-point B
Many taxi companies have even rolled out GPS tracking to keep up with competition from companies like Lyft. Thier Vehicles are also much more likely to be accessible.
This kind of competition also provides an opportunity for state and local government agencies to benefit off of the technology developed and deployed by TNCs to provide service to people with disabilities .
It is the 21st Century and now is the optimal time for public agencies to implement a smartphone app tracking and payment system coupled with on-demand service. The technology is already developed, and it is abundantly evident that there is a need for the service.
Agencies could roll out the service in pieces, beginning with the ability to track your ride online, which would eliminate the long wait times associated with paratransit services
Naturally developing and providing this type of service will come at a cost.
Most TNCs subsidize thier trips to keep rides cheap enough to balance the need to maintain a solid customer base , while paying drivers enough to maintain a large fleet. These subsidies come straight out of the pockets of private companies.
Each ride on public transit agency paratransit is subsidized by tax dollars, adding cost to the population as a whole.
Even with the public subsidies, paratransit rides cost more than the typical bus fare.
Public agencies would be able to fill more vehicles to higher capacity with carpooling models. By utilizing the existing fleet more efficiently they can provide faster service, thus improving service quality.
Extra seats in vehicles could also be used to pick up carpool customers who do not require accessible vehicles, but who are traveling along similar routes.
We live in an era of innovation where we have the potential to change systems and find real solutions to transportation disparotes but before we move forward, we need to stop and contemplate how we are going to use modern day technology to improve access to transportation options
TNCs are a very plausible option with real-time information and mobile ride hailing and payment options, and that there is a demand for them. But effective policy is inclusive of everyone and its time to include the disability community be given a seat at the table in the development of such policies
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