April 20, 2005 – United Spinal Association and Taxis for All Campaign at Roll-In Demonstration

12 photos

Photo of Alexander Wood, Luda Demikhovskaya, Frieda Zames and Carr Massi at roll-in
people in wheelchairs holding signs
Group holding signs

On the sidewalk outside of Manhattan’s Penn Station, a group of people in wheelchairs protests the inaccessibility of New York City yellow cabs to people who use wheelchairs and electric scooters. From left to right (in wheelchairs), Alexander Wood, Luda Demikhovskaya, Frieda Zames, Carr Massi, and on an electric scooter an unidentified woman. In the background, Anne Davis (in red jacket, standing on the left) is seen talking with Councilmember Margarita Lopez (in gray suit, standing on the right).

Alexander Wood holds up a sign reading “Have YOU Signed onto INTRO 84 yet?” Carr Massi holds up a yellow sign reading “We Want YOU INTRO 84”. Luda Demikhovskaya, Frieda Zames, and the unidentified woman in an electric scooter all have signs reading “Taxis for All Campaign – Mayor Bloomberg: It’s Time We Got a Ride!”

Councilmember Margarita Lopez introduced this bill, Intro 84, to require that when a taxi is taken out of service—as it must be after three to five years with rare exceptions—a wheelchair accessible vehicle must replace it.

a row of inaccessible New York City cabs
No Accessible Cabs

On the street looking up Manhattan’s Seventh Avenue (and 34th Street), with pedestrians (and a security officer) walking on the sidewalk, there are three New York City yellow cabs. The cab closest in our view has its side doors slightly ajar.

According to a May 4, 2005 report by NY1’s Gary Anthony Ramsay, “there are 29 wheelchair accessible cabs in the city in a fleet of more than 12,700. Even though that is four times higher than the number last year, it still means that New Yorkers who are wheelchair disabled would have a 1 in 400 shot of getting one of those taxis under the best of circumstances. During rush hour it’s one in a 1,000.”

Michael Imperiale at the Roll-in
Michael Imperiale at the Roll-in

Michael Imperiale, sitting in his electric scooter and wearing his cowboy hat and a pocketed vest with a buttoned short-sleeved shirt underneath, is seen at the roll-in demonstration in front of Manhattan’s Penn Station to show the need for wheelchair and electric scooter accessible cabs in New York City.

Jean Ryan from her wheelchair with right arm in the air
Jean Ryan “Hailing” A Cab

At the taxi stand outside of Manhattan’s Penn Station, Jean Ryan, wearing sunglasses and sitting in her motorized wheelchair, has her right arm raised out towards the street as if she is trying to hail a cab while several yellow New York City taxis pass by.

people in wheelchairs and pedestrians at Penn Station taxi stand
Waiting on the Taxi Line

Several pedestrians stand alongside people in wheelchairs and electric scooters in a line at the taxi stand in front of Manhattan’s Penn Station. Pictured left, in a long sleeve shirt and long skirt, sitting in her motorized wheelchair is Edith Prentiss. Pictured center, in sunglasses and also sitting in a motorized wheelchair on the taxi line, is Jean Ryan.

Edith Prentiss looking for a taxi
Edith Looking For A Taxi

Edith Prentiss, in her motorized wheelchair and whose back is seen in our view, looks up the street of Seventh Avenue while a yellow New York City cab drives by next to her. On the back of Edith’s wheelchair are two knapsacks with buttons pinned to them, with one knapsack holding a plastic bottle of water. Standing in the street just inches from the sidewalk, and wearing a cabbie hat, is Sidney Emerman.

Edith Prentiss on the sidewalks of Seventh Avenue
Seventh Avenue Heartache

Edith Prentiss, in her motorized wheelchair, looks up the street of Seventh Avenue while a yellow New York City cab (pictured left, in the background) drives by her. Behind Edith’s wheelchair is Jean Ryan, who is wearing sunglasses, also sitting in a motorized chair, and waiting along with Prentiss on the sidewalk.

people in wheelchairs and others using walkers at Penn Station taxi stand
No Taxis In Sight

A line of people, some sitting in wheelchairs and electric scooters and one woman using a walker, waits at a taxi stand in front of Manhattan’s Penn Station. Pictured left, in the background, wearing a suit is Marvin Wasserman from the 504 Democratic Club. One of the people pictured on the taxi line (center of the photograph, just right of woman with walker) is Michael Imperiale, who is seen wearing his hat and vest. Pictured right is a man wearing stereo headphones and holding a big microphone in his right hand. The taxi line is marked on the sidewalk by a series of chain links connected with metal poles.

people in wheelchairs talking to reporters in front of Madison Square Garden
Talking To Reporters

Some of the people in wheelchairs talk with news reporters in front of Manhattan’s Penn Station. Others are seen standing around like Sidney Emerman (pictured center, wearing cabbie hat). Pictured right in his wheelchair is Alexander Wood, with his back turned to our view and talking with a bystander standing to his right.

sign on sidewalk in front of Penn Station taxi stand
Taxi Sign

At Manhattan’s Penn Station taxi stand, there is a sign that reads “This Taxi Stand is provided for your convenience by the 34th Street Partnership. This dispatcher cannot accept gratuities.” Below these sentences is a logo of the 34th Street Partnership which is basically composed of the number 34.

cameramen filming the taxi line in front of Penn Station
Filming The Wait

At Manhattan’s Penn Station taxi stand, a couple of cameramen (pictured center, in the street) are holding cameras pointed to the taxi line. On the left, someone is seen reaching for the car door while sitting in a yellow New York City taxi cab. Pictured right, on the taxi line in her motorized wheelchair, is Edith Prentiss. In front of Prentiss stood a female bystander holding her jacket in her left arm and holding on to her suitcase and its extended handle with her right hand.

people in wheelchairs and electric scooters at Penn Station taxi stand
It’s Time We Got A Ride!

A line of people, some sitting in wheelchairs and others sitting in electric scooters, waits at a taxi stand in front of Manhattan’s Penn Station. Pictured left, sitting in her electric scooter, is Frieda Zames who is seen talking to a woman standing next to her. Pictured center, sitting in his electric scooter, is Michael Imperiale. Pictured in the background is Alexander Wood. Attached to two of the scooters in the photo is a paper sign reading “Michael Bloomberg – It’s Time We Got A Ride!”

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