§ 407-149. Accessibility and Equal Treatment Requirements.

(a)

Hailing Where Boarding Devices Can Be Used. If a public vehicle company with accessible vehicles offers a hail-and-ride service, passengers must be able to hail the service at locations where boarding devices can be deployed.

(b)

Multiple Methods of Requesting a Ride. Public vehicle companies with accessible vehicles must provide multiple options for requesting a ride to passengers with a disability, including some combination of the following: phone, text, and/or other digital platform application.

(c)

Closest Available Ride. When a passenger with a disability requests a ride, the dispatcher must dispatch the closest available accessible vehicle to the customer. If the driver of the closest available accessible vehicle does not accept the transportation request within two minutes, the job request must automatically jump to the next closest available accessible vehicle until the passenger's request is accepted by a driver.

(d)

GPS System Required. Public vehicle companies must ensure that accessible vehicles are equipped at all times with a global positioning system and mobile data terminal technology that is able to receive dispatches from a computer-aided dispatch system.

(e)

No Extra Charges. For public vehicle companies with accessible vehicles, no extra fare or surge charge shall be charged for serving a passenger with a disability. If such a public vehicle company charges a fee based on the number of passengers transported, it may not charge a fee for an attendant or care giver traveling with a passenger with a disability.

(f)

Disability Aids at No Extra Cost. Disability aids (e.g. mobility, technical, or medical aids, and equipment) are to be allowed into the accessible vehicle, in addition to normal baggage allowances, at no extra charge.

(g)

Number of Passengers Same for Everyone. Should an accessible vehicle allow for a certain number of passengers who do not use wheelchairs, wheelchair users who are traveling with a number of individuals that would equal the allowed allotment but cannot altogether fit in the accessible vehicle must be offered a second vehicle to transport the other individuals, and the cost of the trip must equal that of one trip containing the allowed number of passengers who do not use wheelchairs.

(h)

Information About Transport Services. General information about transport services must be accessible to all passengers in accessible vehicles. If information cannot be supplied in a passenger's preferred format, equivalent access must be given by direct assistance.

(i)

Service Animals. Requests for service in an accessible vehicle from a passenger accompanied by a service animal may not be refused.

(j)

Non-Wheelchair Mobility Aids in All Public Vehicles. All accessible public vehicles shall reasonably accommodate passengers with canes, walkers, or other mobility devices that can readably fit within a public vehicle that is not an accessible vehicle.

(Ordained by Ord. No. 160-2018, § 1, eff. July 20, 2018)