Text-Only rollDC User’s Guide: Wheelchair Accessible Taxis May, 2011 Wheelchair accessible taxi service began in Washington, D.C. as a pilot project in 2010. Twenty new ramp-equipped mini-vans are now available for taxi service, operated by two local taxi companies. The accessible mini-van taxi vehicles are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and designed to serve people using wheelchairs or other mobility devices and cannot use traditional taxis. While they provide priority service to persons who use mobility devices, the taxis are available to other people. If you use a mobility device, cannot transfer into a traditional taxicab sedan, and want a taxi trip in D.C., this service is for you! Reserving an Accessible Taxi -Contact one of the two participating taxi companies. (reserve your trip an hour or two in advance when possible): Royal Cab: 202-398-0500 or www.dctaxionline.com Yellow Cab of DC: 202-544-1213 or www.dcyellowcab.com -The taxi companies are working together, so please do not call both companies! -Tell the call-taker that you need a wheelchair accessible taxi. -Give the call-taker your pick-up and drop-off information and any additional pertinent information. -Important: Choose a pick-up location where you can access the street. This is important since the taxi’s wheelchair ramp is positioned at the rear of the vehicle. Tips for a Safe and Smooth Trip - Request an accessible taxi an hour or two in advance by contacting one of the two participating taxi companies. Remember there are a limited number of accessible taxis in D.C. -The D.C. accessible taxis are compliant with the ADA and designed for standard-sized power wheelchairs and scooters, measuring 30 inches wide by 48 inches long, and weighing no more than 600 pounds when occupied. -The taxis will not accommodate an over-sized wheelchair such as one with extra adaptive equipment. - Once you are on-board, the driver will secure your wheelchair with the accessible taxi’s equipment. This is for your safety. -Seatbelts are required for all passengers. This is D.C. law! Additional Tips for Accessible Taxi Use - During rush hour, bad weather, periods of high demand or other incidents and events affecting traffic all vehicles including taxis are delayed, so please plan for additional time. -Be prepared to come out to the taxicab as soon as it arrives. -The accessible taxi service is curb-to-curb, just like traditional taxi service. This is not MetroAccess service (the paratransit service for the D.C. region), where the driver comes to the door. - If your driver provides good service, he or she will appreciate a tip. - If you find you do not need the accessible taxi you reserved, be sure to call the taxi company and cancel your trip. Don’t be a “No-Show”! Frequently Asked Questions about D.C. Accessible Taxi Service 1. When and how did the new accessible taxi service start? Wheelchair accessible taxi service was introduced in D.C. in January 2010. The service is a pilot project, funded through the Federal Transit Administration, the D.C. Taxicab Commission (DCTC), and two local taxi companies. Twenty (20) ramp-equipped, ADA-compliant mini-vans were purchased, and the two participating taxi companies placed the vans into taxi service after their drivers received special training for the service. The pilot project is overseen by the Transportation Planning Board (TPB) through the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. 2. Who can use the service? Individuals who use wheelchairs or scooters and cannot use traditional taxi sedans. Some individuals who use manual wheelchairs can use a traditional taxi sedan by transferring to the sedan seat. These individuals may prefer to continue using traditional taxi sedans as they may receive service more quickly because there are many more taxi sedans than wheelchair accessible taxi vehicles. 3. How can I get a trip on a wheelchair accessible taxi vehicle? Call one of the two taxi companies participating in the pilot: Royal Cab 202-398-0500 or www.DCtaxionline.com Or Yellow Cab of DC 202-544-1213 or www.dcyellowcab.com If you call one company and their wheelchair taxis are busy, that company will transfer your trip request to the other company. 4. Do I have to reserve this service in advance? It is recommended that you reserve a trip at least an hour or two in advance because there are a limited number of wheelchair accessible taxis. You may also reserve your trip up to a week in advance. 5. What are the service hours? 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. 6. What type of service is it? The service is curb-to-curb. The driver will help you get in and out of the vehicle if needed. If you need help beyond this, you may want to bring someone to assist you. 7. What areas or cities are served? All parts of D.C. – both trip origins and destinations. And they can take you to any destination outside D.C. 8. Can I use this service to get to and from the local airports? - For trips TO Reagan National, Dulles and BWI from D.C.: Call Royal Cab 202-398-0500 or Yellow Cab of DC 202-544-1213 -For trips FROM the airports to D.C.: - From Reagan National – either (1) Pre-arrange your pick-up with Royal or Yellow or (2) Ask the taxi dispatcher at the airport to arrange for your wheelchair accessible taxi From Dulles and BWI – Both Dulles and BWI have their own wheelchair accessible taxis. Please call ahead to reserve a taxi. - BWI Airport Taxi: (410) 859-1100 www.bwiairporttaxi.com - Washington Flyer (Dulles) Taxi: 703-572-TAXI, www.washfly.com/Taxi_rate.htm 9. What information should I provide when requesting the service? When you call to request a trip on an accessible taxi, tell the call-taker: - that you will need an accessible taxi, - your pick-up and drop-off information, and - any additional information to help the driver find your pick-up location. Please be aware that the accessible taxis are designed for standard-sized wheelchairs and scooters. Also, please choose a pick-up location where the driver can lower the ramp. The ramp is positioned at the rear of the vehicle, so you must board the taxi from the street. 10. What are the rates or special charges for this service? The rates for accessible taxi service are the same as traditional taxi service; there is no extra charge. Rates are regulated by the DCTC. Information can be found at www.dctaxi.dc.gov 11. How do I pay for my fare? You can pay with cash or by credit card. Yellow also offers a re-loadable, prepaid “CabCard” that can be used to pay for trips; please refer to www.dcyellowcab.com for more information. 12. Can other passengers travel with me on the accessible taxi? Yes, the accessible taxi vehicles can fit 3 to 4 additional passengers beyond the person using a wheelchair. According to regulated D.C. taxi fares, extra charges apply when traveling with additional passengers six years of age and older. 13. How can I assist the driver in preparing for the trip? Come out to the taxi as soon as it arrives at your pick-up location. If you need help getting in and out of the vehicle, ask the driver for assistance, and be specific about the type of help you need. The driver will then know how best to help. 14. What if I find I do not need the accessible taxi that I reserved? Call the taxi company and cancel your trip. Don’t be a no-show! No-shows waste the limited resources of the accessible taxi service and may prevent another person who needs the accessible service from receiving a trip. 15. Contact us with comments, compliments or complaints! We value your input. - On-Line survey available at: http://proj.cicresearch.com/rollDC3.asp -Email TPBcoordination@mwcog.org -Call TPB 202-962-3207 - Fill out the survey at the end of this document and mail back to the TPB, or for assistance with filling out this survey; please call 202-962-3321. Alternative formats of this publication are available upon request. Call 202.962.3300 or 202.962.3213(TDD) or email: accomodations@mwcog.org. Allow seven working days for the preparation of the material. Customer Satisfaction Survey; For assistance with completing this survey, please call 202-962-3321 or mail the filled out survey to: Debbie Leigh – DTP Staff MWCOG 777 North Capital Street NE Suite 300 Washington, DC 20002 1. What was the main purpose of your trip? (Check only one) ? Riding to/from work ? Other work-related trip ? Going to/from school ? Shopping ? Health (doctor, hospital, clinic, pharmacy) ? Other personal business ? Going out or entertainment ? Visiting a friend or a relative ? Other: __________________________ 2. Which taxi company did you use? ? Royal Cab ? Yellow Cab of DC 3. How did you contact the taxi company? ? Called the company ? Reserved the trip using the website ? Called the taxi driver directly on his cell ? Hailed the taxi on the street (SKIP TO Q5) 4. How long did you wait for your taxi? ? 30 minutes or less ? Between 30 and 60 minutes ? More than 60 minutes 5. What type of mobility device did you use? ? Power wheelchair ? Scooter ? Manual wheelchair ? Other: __________________________ 6. Please rate the service using a scale of “1” to “5” where “1” means poor and “5” means excellent: ____ The taxi company call-taker was helpful and courteous. ____ Driver fastened lap and shoulder belts in a professional manner. ____ The driver provided a safe trip. ____ The driver was courteous. ____ My mobility device fit comfortably in the taxi. ____ My mobility device was well-secured in the vehicle. 7. What is your overall opinion of the service you received on this trip? ? poor ? fair ? good ? very good ? excellent 8. How did you first learn about the service? ? News reports (newspaper, radio) ? Friend, family, co-worker, word of mouth ? Saw the wheelchair accessible taxis driving around ? A website: ___________________ ? Other: ______________________ 9. Are you a...? ? DC metropolitan area resident ? Tourist/visitor to DC 7