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  • Traveling to New York

    Posted by lindsay-russell on April 11, 2025 at 10:26 pm

    Hi! I will be taking a week vacation to New York next month. We plan to be walking pretty much everywhere we go, but I need to be able to bring my cough assist with me. I have the Philips Respironics Cough Assist T70. Right now to bring it somewhere with me, we use a rolling bag. But this will not be very realistic while walking on the street. Does anyone use a bag for it that can be carried easily? I thought we still had the one it came with but we haven’t been able to find it. Also, for far away places we plan to use a taxi or Uber. Does anyone have any experience with taking taxis or Ubers in New York? I don’t think I’m going to ride the subway. Thanks!

    Val replied 2 days, 1 hour ago 6 Members · 9 Replies
  • 9 Replies
  • kevin-schaefer

    Member
    April 15, 2025 at 10:27 am

    Hey, Lindsay! I’ve been to NYC a couple of times: https://smanewstoday.com/columns/sma-didnt-get-way-adventures-big-apple-part-1/.

    A carry-on bag is definitely helpful. It’s been a few years, but I rode an accessible taxi and it went well. Have a great time!

  • Val

    Member
    April 15, 2025 at 2:14 pm

    Make sure to order transportation before arriving to the airport.

    You can’t catch accessible Uber outside of Manhattan.

    Buses are ok though, but take time.

    • lindsay-russell

      Member
      April 16, 2025 at 7:29 pm

      Hi! I am flying into Laguardia airport and I have seen videos saying that there are accessible taxis waiting at the airport. It’s also listed on their website that there are accessible taxis waiting. Is that not true?

      • Val

        Member
        April 17, 2025 at 2:40 pm

        I landed here New York/Newark, NJ, US (EWR)

        and had to take the bus, waisting somewhere around 4 hours, getting lost at Central and making my way through homeless people to a taxi in Manhattan.

        Transportation is something you want to be really sure of.

  • Steph

    Member
    April 15, 2025 at 2:37 pm

    It’s been a few years since I have been to the Big Apple. I took a carry bag everywhere I went so that I would have everything that I needed for just in case. Wherever you are staying definitely let them know that you are in a wheelchair and need accessible transportation. The hotel should have phone numbers for accessible taxis. Definitely schedule your transportation ahead of time. If you don’t you will have a long wait. The buses are accessible so that is another option but you will need to know how to read the bus route. The hotel should be able to help with this too.

  • patrick-lenihan

    Member
    April 15, 2025 at 8:19 pm

    Others have transportation covered in their post. One thing that I recommend every first time visitor to New York City does, is to take the Circle Line Best of NYC Full Island Tour. Power wheelchair users have to board the boat at Pier 83.

  • alyssa-silva

    Member
    April 16, 2025 at 12:38 pm

    Woo, that’s exciting! New York is a lot of fun. Another transportation tip is to download the Uber WAV app. It’s Uber for wheelchair accessible vans. You can only stay in Manhattan, though, like Val said. But that being said, it was super convenient and I didn’t have to plan in advance to go anywhere. Also, keep in mind that not all subway stations are accessible, so if you change your mind about riding it, that does need to be planned out ahead of time.

    • lindsay-russell

      Member
      April 16, 2025 at 7:31 pm

      So will an accessible Uber not be able to go to Brooklyn? On the app, it doesn’t show that it won’t go there.

      • Val

        Member
        April 17, 2025 at 2:48 pm

        From Manhattan you can.

        There might be an issue going back

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