New York City’s latest wheelchair-accessible taxis hit the streets last week. Winamac-based BraunAbility adapted the chassis of the Nissan NV200 cargo van to accommodate a rear-entry wheelchair ramp. It folds away when not in use by a wheelchair user, so the taxis are able to be used by both disabled and non-disabled passengers. The rear-entry design also eliminates the need for wheelchair passengers to load and unload in street traffic.
The shipment is the first of many expected to hit the streets of New York City. A law passed last year requires half of the city’s taxi fleet to be wheelchair accessible by 2020. The new taxis also feature an integrated restraint system for the safe and quick securement of wheelchairs and scooters. Their integrated mobility design meets or exceeds all requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act to accommodate the widest variety of wheelchairs and wheelchair users.
BraunAbility is the world’s leading manufacturer of wheelchair accessible vehicles and wheelchair lifts in the mobility industry. Founded nearly 50 years ago by Ralph Braun, the corporation was built on the age-old adage, “Necessity is the mother of invention.” Ralph Braun was a young man who used a wheelchair and had no reliable transportation to and from his place of work. He built his first wheelchair accessible vehicle in 1972, and since then the company has grown into the most trusted and experienced name in the mobility industry, bringing independence to tens of thousands of individuals across the world.
