Taxi companies within the City of Dallas do have wheelchair accessible, ramp-equipped taxis. But the situation is complicated.
During my time in Dallas, I made multiple requests for an accessible taxi ride, but was unsuccessful each time. I was repeatedly told that the ADA taxis were already booked or unavailable. My hotel concierge was also unable to secure one for me. My requests occurred at different time periods – morning, afternoon and night. I did, however, see an ADA Yellow Cab taxi picking up a wheelchair user outside Union Station in Downtown Dallas:
They do exist! But I couldn’t order one, after numerous attempts over the course of a week. So, what’s the deal?
I learned that the ADA taxis in Dallas are contracted out to the city’s paratransit service. This reduces – or in my experience, eliminates – the ability to call an on-demand accessible cab. As you’ll see in the photo above, the ramp-equipped van is owned and operated by Yellow Cab, but has a DART logo sticker on the front fender.
Paratransit services don’t work for many residents. They are rarely practical for wheelchair travelers as tourists. As I wrote in a 2015 blog post, a failure of city governments to enforce the ADA with respect to taxi companies forces the disabled into the shadows.
I plan to reach out to disability groups in Dallas and the city government to see what solutions are being discussed, if any. As with every trip, I look to bring the power of WheelchairTravel.org to improve accessibility in the cities I visit. I hope to have more to report on this matter soon.
In the meantime, if you’d like to try placing an order for an ADA taxi in Dallas, here is the relevant contact information:
Dallas Yellow Cab Co.
www.DallasYellowCab.com
+1 214-426-6262
The Dallas-based company Care Trips offers wheelchair accessible transportation to residents and tourists alike using Dodge Grand Caravan and Toyota Sienna vehicles. Each of the company’s 20 vans has a rear-entry wheelchair ramp and securement straps. The vans can accommodate 2 passengers in addition to the wheelchair user. The fare charged is a $35 base rate, plus $3.50 per mile.
To set-up a ride with Care Trips, utilize the following contact information:
Care Trips
www.CareTrips.net
+1 214-238-9100
CareTrips recommends that reservations be made 12 hours in advance of the trip, but rides can often be accommodated on shorter notice.
