The Federal Department of Transportation Americans with Disabilities Act regulations allow MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) to grant persons "conditional eligibility" when:
- Buses or subways are inaccessible.
- Conditions at bus stops or subway stations do not permit individuals to board and disembark from accessible vehicles.
- The individual’s wheelchair cannot be accommodated on accessible vehicles.
- Their specific impairment-related conditions prevent them from traveling to or from bus stops and subways.
Customers granted conditional eligibility are eligible for Access-A-Ride (AAR) paratransit service only when their disability and/or specific impairment-related conditions prevent them from using buses or subways. For example, snow, hot and/or cold weather, hilly terrain, subway stairs, ambulating certain distances, and unfamiliarity with a destination are conditions that prevent some people with disabilities from using the bus or subway.
Those determined conditionally eligible for AAR may only travel on AAR when the conditions noted on the AAR ID card apply.
NYCT will check the weather site www.weather.gov/nyc to determine when weather conditions apply.
Customers with questions about conditional eligibility should call the Eligibility Unit at 877-337-2017. Customers who are deaf should call through the relay. When the recorded message begins, the customer should press either “1” to continue in English or “2” to continue in Spanish. When the subsequently recorded message begins, the customer should press “1” to speak with a representative.
Conditional eligibility categories
Stairs Restricted: Customers are eligible to travel by AAR when the only option for travel is an inaccessible subway station and they have been determined able to travel by bus or accessible subway station.
Extreme Cold: Customers are eligible to travel by AAR when the temperature is forecast to be 39° F or below on the day of travel. Environmental barriers to travel such as snow and icy streets will be taken into consideration.
Extreme Heat: Customers are eligible to travel by AAR when the temperature is forecast to be 90° F or above on the day of travel. Environmental barriers to travel such as humidity will be taken into consideration.
Extreme Cold/Extreme Heat: Customers are eligible to travel by AAR when conditions described under extreme cold/extreme heat apply.
Extreme Cold and Stairs Restricted: Customers are eligible to travel by AAR (1) when the temperature is forecast to be 39°F or below on the day of travel or (2) when the only option for travel is an inaccessible subway station and they have been determined able to travel by bus or accessible subway station. Environmental barriers to travel such as snow and icy streets will be taken into consideration.
Extreme Heat and Stairs Restricted: Customers are eligible to travel by AAR (1) when the temperature is forecast to be 90° F or above on the day of travel or (2) when the only option for travel is an inaccessible subway station and they have been determined able to travel by bus or accessible subway station. Environmental barriers to travel such as humidity will be taken into consideration.
Extreme Cold/Extreme Heat and Stairs Restricted: Customers are eligible to travel by AAR (1) when the temperature is forecast to be 39°F or below on the day of travel or (2) when the temperature is forecast to be 90° F or above on the day of travel or (3) when the only option for travel is an inaccessible subway station and they have been determined able to travel by bus or accessible subway station. Environmental barriers to travel such as humidity, snow, and icy streets will be taken into consideration.
Unfamiliar Places (Navigational): Customers are eligible to travel by AAR when they are unfamiliar with bus and/or subway routes to some locations due to a cognitive or visual impairment. The customer may not use AAR for routes with which they are familiar.
Distance
1 to 2 Blocks: Customers are eligible to travel by AAR for all trips that would require them to travel to a bus stop or subway station that is more than 1-2 blocks from the origin or destination of their trip.
3 to 4 Blocks: Customers are eligible to travel by AAR for all trips that would require them to travel to a bus stop or subway station that is more than 3-4 blocks from the origin or destination of their trip.
More than 5 Blocks: Customers are eligible to travel by AAR for all trips that would require them to travel to a bus stop or subway station that is more than 5 blocks from the origin or destination of their trip.
All MTA New York City Transit buses are ADA-accessible to people with disabilities.