Big Lift for People with Disabilities in Downtown Brooklyn

There's an ADA-compliant (Americans with Disabilities Act) elevator at the Jay Street-Borough Hall Station. It's "one of about a dozen handicapped-accessible elevators built by the MTA in Brooklyn," reports the Brooklyn Daily Eagle.

Wow! Those folks with disabilities sure do have it made in the shade and the subway, too. A dozen elevators!

Actually, according to the MTA, there are 18 accessible stations in Brooklyn, though they don't all have elevators. Some just have ramps. And some have directions for big excursions that you'd need a map and tour guide to find your way around.

Better still, some of the elevators go on a special list - the "Outage List." So, when people with disabilities want to go out, they need to check first to see if the elevator they need to use is out. They also have to hope that while they are out the elevator they need to get home doesn't go out.

What a marvelous system for encouraging our fellow citizens with disabilities to get out and about.

Ah, well, they've got 12 to 18 accessible stations, anyway. So, they're all set. At least, unless you take into account that there are 170 Brooklyn subway stations.

Excuse me for a minute; I have to check my calendar. Yep! It's 2010 all right.

Let's get with it. The Jay Street elevator is good, but we need a good hundred more.

What's that tune you're singing? Oh, you don't need station elevators. You don't have disabilities. You're just fine and dandy. Thank you.

Be careful not to trip over your "Hooray for me" stance and injure yourself or you'll be singing a different tune, then.

Any one of us or our loved ones could become injured or stricken by illness tomorrow. We'd best be prepared and get those elevators working today.

Sources:

Mary Frost, "Sleek New MTA Elevators Just the Beginning of $160M Jay Street Station Renovation." Brooklyn Daily Eagle.
MTA, "MTA Guide to Accessible Transit," Metropolitan Transit Authority.
MTA, "Elevator & Escalator Status," Metropolitan Transit Authority.
MTA, "2009 Subway Ridership," Metropolitan Transit Authority.