Inaccessible Food Truck Protested


Food trucks are becoming increasingly popular in Austin and very many of them are inaccessible.
Food trucks are becoming increasingly popular in Austin and very many of them are inaccessible.

Austin, Texas’ Veracruz food trucks are known for their all-natural Tex-Mex offerings, and unfortunately also for being parked on lots of rocks and gravel, and having super-high windows that no wheelchair user could reach. In fact, Texas ADAPT activists complain that they couldn’t even be seen from the food truck windows.

Fortunately, the Veracruz truck that was protested values its customers and made swift changes after 30 ADAPT activists showed up on June 22 demanding better accessibility: large rocks were switched out for smaller pebbles and a wooden ramp was installed.

“They’re our customers, and we appreciate them as much as we appreciate everyone else who comes in. We want everyone to be able to access our truck equally and as perfect as everyone can,” said the daughter of the food truck’s owner, to KVUE television.

Texas ADAPT often frequents the Veracruz food truck because it’s near their office, but after the vendor purchased a less accessible truck, the group took action. Although this Veracruz truck’s accessibility is now better, the broader problem of inaccessible food trucks is getting worse.

“Initially there were just a handful of food trucks out there, but it has become a huge trend in Austin,” says Renee Lopez of Texas ADAPT. “It’s now become an issue of discrimination.”

Julie Espinoza, another food truck protestor, says the accessibility issue isn’t complicated to fix. She wants to see a lowered drive-thru style window where customers with disabilities can get service. “It’s ridiculous for mom and pop places to spend $40,000 on a vehicle for public business and not think of customers with disabilities,” she says.


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