Author Topic: New transportation option in my area  (Read 76 times)

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Offline agate

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New transportation option in my area
« on: March 01, 2019, 04:20:43 pm »
The town I live in has just announced a new transportation option for those who use wheelchairs--badly needed by those who rely only on a local paratransit system for transportation:

Quote
Portland Proudly Introduces PDX WAV
People with mobility devices generally wait a disproportionate amount of time for a ride, if a certified vehicle is available at all.  To improve service to those who need on-demand service now, Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) has developed PDX WAV, a new program which makes reliable, safe vehicle-for-hire services more easily accessible to people using mobility devices.
Portland City Council approved an Accessible Transportation Fund and asked PBOT’s Director of the Private For-Hire Transportation Program to manage the fund for the purpose of providing an incentive to companies who provide on-demand, for-hire accessible transportation services in Portland.  This incentive will help companies mitigate the higher costs of providing accessible services which includes purchasing and maintaining a larger vehicle with a wheelchair lift or ramp, higher gas consumption as compared to a smaller sedan, increased time involved with securing passengers in a safe and responsible manner, as well as increased levels of driver training.   
How does it work?


PBOT designed PDX WAV to provide safe, reliable wheelchair-accessible vehicles (WAV's) when people need them.   Customers can now request a wheelchair accessible taxi by calling 503-865-4WAV (865-4928) 24-hours a day, 7-days a week.   A friendly dispatcher will locate an accessible taxi for the customer.  Accessible taxis endeavor to arrive within 30 minutes; fares vary by company, but are required to be equivalent to non-accessible taxi services.

Did you know you can request your favorite company or driver?   If you have a request, simply tell the dispatcher when you call.   Or, you can ask for the closest accessible taxi.
To order an accessible TNC (Uber and Lyft), you will use the corresponding app on your wireless device.  On the Uber app, you will slide through the vehicle options until you see "WAV".  On the Lyft app, you will add "wheelchair access" in settings, then click "get a ride" and slide through the vehicle options to select "Access".  Fares vary by company and are required to be equivalent to non-accessible services.   Accessible vehicles endeavor to arrive within 30 minutes.   Unlike other transportation programs for people with disabilities, PDX WAV serves customers who need a ride now.  On-demand service by providers including taxi and TNC (Uber and Lyft) companies in Portland should be easy to obtain, safe and reliable.   There is no need to be pre-registered with PDX WAV and you don't have to share a ride with somebody you don't know.   Anyone in Portland, whether you live here or are visiting, can access the fleet of accessible on-demand vehicles easily from drivers with extra training including Passenger Assistance, Safety and Sensitivity Training and hands on wheelchair securement training. 
« Last Edit: March 01, 2019, 09:18:59 pm by agate »
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SPMS, diagnosed 1980. Avonex 2001-2004. Copaxone 2007-2010. Glatopa (glatiramer acetate 40mg 3 times/week) since 12/16/20.

 

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