How to Find a Wheelchair-Accessible Ride

Getting a ride when you use a wheelchair, walker, or power scooter takes a few more steps than calling a standard cab. Many wheelchairs do not fold and cannot fit in the trunk of a sedan. Power scooters often weigh more than 200 pounds and need a ramp or a lift to load. The good news is that most cities now offer multiple accessible ride options, from public paratransit van services run by your local transit agency, to wheelchair-accessible vehicles called WAV inside the Uber and Lyft apps, to specialty companies like GoGoGrandparent and Veyo that focus on senior and disability rides.

The Americans with Disabilities Act requires every public transit agency that runs buses or trains to also offer paratransit service for riders who cannot use the regular bus because of a disability. Paratransit is curb-to-curb or door-to-door van service that runs the same hours as the regular bus and serves the same area within three-quarters of a mile of any bus route. A paratransit ride costs about the same as a regular bus fare, usually $1.50 to $4 per one-way trip in most cities. The catch is that you have to apply, get approved, and book each ride at least one day in advance, sometimes longer. Once approved, you stay in the system for several years and can ride as often as you need.

Uber and Lyft both offer a wheelchair-accessible vehicle option in most large cities. In the Uber app it is called Uber WAV, and in the Lyft app it is called Access. These rides arrive in a van with a ramp or lift, and the driver helps load and secure the wheelchair. WAV rides cost the same as standard UberX or Lyft rides, although wait times can be longer because there are fewer accessible vehicles on the road. If your wheelchair folds and you can transfer to a regular car seat, you do not need WAV at all and can book a standard Uber, Lyft, or taxi. For seniors without smartphones, GoGoGrandparent connects to both apps using a regular phone call.

This guide walks you through finding your local paratransit service, applying for an eligibility card, downloading and using the Uber and Lyft accessibility options, calling GoGoGrandparent if you prefer a phone, hiring a taxi with a ramp, and using non-emergency medical transportation paid for by Medicaid. Set aside about a week to gather paperwork for paratransit. The Uber and Lyft options can be set up in under an hour, and a same-day medical appointment ride is often quick to arrange with one phone call.