For elderly and people with disabilities, traveling in NYC may at first appear daunting. However, the city is, for the most part, well equipped to accommodate the needs of those with physical limitation. For public transit options check the MTA New York City Guide to Accessible Transit You may also call for information: Tel: 511 TTY: 711 Bus All of New York City's public buses are equipped with lifts so that wheelchair users can travel anywhere in the city. Subway Many subway stations contain elevators, ramps, visual display signs, accessible public telephones, and tactile and audio features on vending machines; passengers with disabilities pay reduced fares on most trips. That said, please note that not every subway station is accessible. Please visit the MTA website or call for more information Access–A–Ride – Public Para-Transit System Door-to-door service is available for eligible individuals unable to use public bus or subway service. This service operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Please visit website or call (877) 337-201. Taxi Taxis are required to accept passengers with service animals and those in wheelchairs. They must assist passenger with folding wheelchair and placing in trunk. In addition there are a number if wheelchair accessible taxis that prowl the streets and are available for hailing. However, in practice it would be wise to use the City's Accessible Dispatch program, which allows users to request wheelchair accessible taxi for pickup anywhere in Manhattan to to a destination anywhere in the five boroughs, Westchester County, Nassau County or Newark Airport. To order: • Call 311 • Call direct dispatch: (646) 599-9999 • Text a request to: (646) 400-0789 • Use the mobile app “Wheels on Wheels” (WOW), powered by Taxi Magic available free at the Apple iTunes Store • Order online at Finally, <a href=http://vegatransportation.com/">Vega Transport offers luxury wheelchair accessible service. Deaf & Hard of Hearing A number of organizations work to brink NYCs immense cultural offerings to those with problems with hearing. The Broadway Accessibility Initiative provides tools for some theatre offerings. Hands On is a New York City-based service organization dedicated to providing greater accessibility to arts and cultural events for the deaf and hard of hearing community. Many theaters have infrared listening devices available to the hearing impaired. The Hands On! Organization arranges sign language interpreting for many cultural events, including museum exhibitions, theater productions and film screenings. The Theatre Development Fund's Theatre Access Project offers open-caption and sign-interpreted performances for many Broadway and Off-Broadway productions, and also arranges wheelchair access. Additional Resources The Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) works hand-in-hand with other city agencies to assure that the voice of the disabled community is represented and that city programs and policies address the needs of people with disabilities. Here is link to pdf of the Official Accessibility Guide. The Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality (SATH) at (212) 447-7284, provides extensive educational and resource material to expand travel opportunities not only in New York but also worldwide. Renting Wheelchairs One of the best options is ScootAround. ScootAround's mission is to provide an easy, convenient way for mature and disabled travelers to enjoy their vacations and other excursions and not have to worry about their personal mobility. By contacting ScootAround through their Internet site or toll free number, they can arrange a scooter rental through their network of dealers all over North America.