The Washington, D.C., Taxicab Commission announced that cab companies who fail to meet the time requirements of the Taxicab Service Improvement Amendment Act of 2012 will be able to request an additional 180 days to comply. Taxicabs and black car luxury companies were to have 6 percent of their fleets wheelchair accessible by this past Dec. 31, 12 percent accessible by Dec. 31, 2016 and at least 20 percent accessible by Dec. 31, 2018.

This announcement was made via a Feb. 12 press release entitled, “D.C. Taxicab Commission Approves Final Rulemaking Requiring Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles.”

DCTC allowing companies to delay compliance with the 3-year-old act has raised red-flags with advocates who are concerned about the District’s will to enforce accessibility. “I urge the DCTC to strongly enforce the requirement to provide wheelchair-accessible taxi service. Allowing an additional six months sends the message to the District’s residents, workers and visitors with disabilities that their access to all modes of transportation is not a priority,” said Carol Tyson, senior policy associate for United Spinal Association.

United Spinal has also urged the DCTC to ensure that all for-hire vehicle drivers receive disability etiquette training and those driving accessible vehicles also receive training on how to operate equipment and provide safe and courteous service.