ADA compliant wheelchair accessible taxi vans with rear entry wheelchair ramps are available within the Boston metropolitan area and are charged at the same meter rates as a normal taxi. Rideshare services Uber and Lyft also offer wheelchair accessible vans in Boston through their UberWAV and Lyft Access platforms.
Traditional Wheelchair Taxis
Boston has a fleet of 100 licensed wheelchair taxis which can accommodate both manual and powered wheelchairs. The accessible taxi vans have a lowered floor and are equipped for rear (lift gate) entry. Wheelchair taxis can be ordered on demand and typically arrive within 20 to 40 minutes in Boston. Wheelchair taxis may not be available during the overnight hours, and I have had difficulty securing an accessible cab prior to 8 a.m.
The following companies offer adapted wheelchair taxis and are authorized to make pick-ups within the City of Boston:
Boston Cab Association
www.bostoncab.us
+1 (617) 536-5010
Independent Taxis Operators Association
www.itoataxi.com
+1 (617) 268-1313
The following meter rates apply are approved by the City of Boston and apply to both standard taxi cabs and wheelchair taxis provided by the traditional cab companies:
- Flag Drop + First 1/7 mile — $2.60
- Each additional 1/7 mile — $0.40
- Idling/Wait time — $28 per hour
The following additional toll charges apply to taxi rides between the airport and Center City.
- TO Logan Airport FROM Boston — $2.65 for trips that pass through the Callahan or Ted Williams Tunnel; $2.25 for trips that cross the Tobin Bridge.
- TO Boston FROM Logan Airport — $4.90 for trips that pass through the Callahan or Ted Williams Tunnel; $4.50 for trips that cross the Tobin Bridge.
There are no additional charges for extra passengers or bags, and taxi drivers are required to provide a receipt by the Boston Police Department.
Requesting a wheelchair taxi ride an hour or more in advance of your trip will increase the likelihood of an on-time pick-up. For late-night or early-morning trips, requests should be made much earlier (12-24 hours).
UberWAV in Boston
Boston is one of a small number of cities where Uber offers a wheelchair accessible service to people with disabilities. I am a frequent Uber rider in Boston, where wait times generally range from 5 to 20 minutes. Occasionally, wait times may be longer given that there are a limited number of UberWAV vehicles on the road at any given time. I have found that UberWAV is frequently unavailable between the hours of 12 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. in Boston, so keep that in mind when making plans.
The lower costs associated with Uber make the platform attractive to residents and tourists alike. UberWAV vehicles in Boston are Dodge Grand Caravans with a rear-entry wheelchair ramp. I have found the UberWAV drivers to be knowledgeable in securing my wheelchair with tie-downs in the vehicle, and each driver has treated me with respect.
If you are interested in testing out UberWAV for yourself, download the iOS or Android App to your phone. By using my promo code JOHNM82489UE during sign-up, you’ll receive your first ride free (up to a certain amount). I will receive a $5 credit for referring you. You don’t have to use my code, but I will appreciate it if you do!
Wheelchair Accessible Lyft in Boston
Just like Uber, Lyft also offers accessible rides in Boston using Dodge Grand Caravan vehicles with a rear-entry wheelchair ramp.
I use Lyft much less frequently than Uber, largely due to the fact that their accessible vans are often unavailable, especially at night. If, when searching for a ride, the Lyft app shows “in 7 minutes” under the wheelchair vehicle option, you probably will not get a ride. 7 minutes seems to be Lyft’s default when no wheelchair vans are on the road.
If you would like to give Lyft Access a try while visiting Boston, download the iOS or Android App to your phone. Use my promo code JOHN96055 during sign-up and you’ll receive a discount on your first ride (amount varies by location). I will receive a $10 credit for referring you. You don’t have to use my code, but I will appreciate it if you do!
