Transit for People with Disabilities Easier Access T HE UBER BOSTON DISABILITY COALITION was formed in early 2016 to improve on-demand transportation options for people with disabilities. It recently hosted a public forum to discuss the existing accessible-transportation options and brain- stormed ideas with the Disability Law Center (DLC), Disability Policy Consortium (DPC), Boston Center for Independent Living (BCIL) and Uber. WeNeedYou! The Community Development Department (CDD) seeks creative people to participate in the official City of Cambridge PARK(ing) Day celebration on Friday, September 15th. PARK(ing) Day is an international event in which parking spaces are transformed into something else for the day. Spots in Cambridge have been turned into scenes from Curious George, parklets, separated bike lanes, Connect Four tournaments and dog parks. CambridgeMa.gov/parkingday Register for your PARK(ing) Day spot today! Due date for registration is June 30, 2017. ➤ The MBTA presented its new On-Demand Paratransit Pilot Pro- gram, a partnership with Uber and Lyft. People with disabilities who use the MBTA’s paratransit service THE RIDE can register for the pilot program and receive up to 20 rideshares per month in addition to their RIDE service. Unlike THE RIDE, which must be reserved at least one day in advance, the pilot program offers on-demand service. Par- ticipants pay the first $2.00 of each trip, and the MBTA contributes up to $13.00 additionally. ➤ Uber offers Uber Access, a partner- ship with Boston wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) taxicabs, to provide ac- cessible rides to people who use wheel- chairs and other mobility devices. Uber Access rides have the same rates as other Uber rides and can be requested via the same app. In the future, the company is looking to partner with a company that retrofits vans to make them WAV accessible. Uber also worked with the National Federation for the Blind to require drivers to accept passengers who have service animals. ➤ Cambridge cab drivers are required to attend a five-night taxi school, including a segment taught by staff from the City’s Commission for Persons with Disabilities and the Council on Aging, on how to properly transport senior passen- gers or those who have disabilities. Recent efforts to improve services for persons with disabilities include the following: By the COMMISSION FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES 30 | Getting Around Cambridge Disability Advocates Uber CAMBRIDGE S2017 SWFIN2.indd 2 6/6/17 8:29 PM