March 13, 2003 – Access-A-Ride Press Conference at City Hall

A group of people (some in wheelchairs and some standing) are seen at the press conference holding some signs reading “WE ARE TIRED OF FALSE PROMISES!”, “COST PER TRIP: BOSTON $24, NYC $54!”, “NO MORE STRESS-A-RIDE”, and “INVESTIGATE ACCESS-A-RIDE NOW!…” (some parts of the sign too small to be legible).

Outside of City Hall on March 13, 2003, a group of people, some standing and some sitting in wheelchairs and scooters, surrounds Councilwoman Margarita Lopez holding a piece of paper. Most of the people in the group are holding up signs such as “REVAMP ACCESS-A-RIDE NOW”, “CHILDREN CAN TOO RIDE ACCESS-A-RIDE!”, “DISABLED IN ACTION”, and “Bad Service! Access-A-Ride Stinks! Riders Won’t Take It Anymore”.

A male Access-A-Ride user, with dark brown hair and in a navy blue trench coat, talks about unsafe vans at a press conference. At the podium in front of the speaker is the New York City government logo in an orange and purple circle and a microphone representing Crosswalks Television Channel 74. Several people are seen standing behind the man, including Councilwoman Margarita Lopez. Some of the signs held behind the man read “TOTALLY RESTRUCTURE ACCESS-A-RIDE NOW! DISABLED IN ACTION”, and (partially seen at the upper left corner of the picture) “ACCESS-A-RIDE – EQUAL ACCESS IS THE LAW” (with cartoons of two people in wheelchairs surrounding the words).

A gentleman wearing a black knit hat, dark sunglasses, a black leather jacket and a white collared shirt speaks at the podium in front of City Hall. At the podium holds the New York City government logo in an orange and purple circle and a microphone representing Crosswalks Television Channel 74. To the right of the man is Councilwoman Margarita Lopez wearing a blue parka and pushing the hair behind her right ear. Several other people are standing behind the man speaking including a female senior citizen in red glasses and a black jacket who holds up a sign reading “TOTALLY RESTRUCTURE ACCESS-A-RIDE NOW! DISABLED IN ACTION”

Some people surround a man wearing glasses, a dark blue baseball cap bearing the red and orange Fire Department of New York City logo, and a light gray snap-button jacket reading “NEW YORK” in block letters with a wavy line underneath the words “NEW YORK”. The man holds up a sign reading “CHILDREN CAN TOO RIDE ACCESS-A-RIDE!” while speaking behind the podium holding the New York City government logo in an orange and purple circle and a microphone representing Crosswalks Television Channel 74. Behind the man is Councilwoman Margarita Lopez wearing a blue parka. Behind Lopez is a woman, wearing a black hat and coat, holding up a sign reading “9,000 RIDES SCHEDULED BUT HOW MANY ARE ACTUALLY GIVEN? DISABLED IN ACTION”

Councilwoman Margarita Lopez is seen speaking at the press conference in front of City Hall surrounded by fellow protesters standing as well as in wheelchairs while most are holding up various signs protesting Access-A-Ride.