Getting around some parts of San Francisco can be challenging in a wheelchair, especially if using a manual wheelchair because of the hills. Wheelchair accessible taxis in San Francisco has become problematic. They are basically impossible to get. Uber claims to have an adapted van service, but no wheelchairs vans are even available. If you have someone with you that manages the wheelchair and can transfer yourself into a vehicle, then the new transportation phone applications, like Uber and Lyft, are a favorite for some travelers.
The best option is to use accessible public transportation like, BART, MUNI and buses, or rent a van. The light rail and historic F-Market & Wharves line are accessible at certain street level stops and is fully accessible in the underground stations. MUNI gives a disabled discounted.
ATTENTION TRAVELERS: Multiple wheelchair users have reported that both Yellow Cab and DeSoto Cab are NOT serving us with accessible vans. PLEASE refrain from using them OR better yet call and complain.
Paratransit
If a visitor is eligible for the ADA paratransit system back at home, they may use the SF Access van service (San Francisco’s ADA mandated paratransit service). For more information about using the SF Access service as a visitor, it is recommend that they contact the SF Paratransit office at 1-415-351-7050.
Luxor
Typically has a stable fleet of wheelchair accessible taxis and perform a high volume of wheelchair trips for our paratransit program. Their phone number is 415-282-4141.
DeSoto Cab
415-970-1303
• Entry is 54.5 inches tall and 33 inches wide
• The chair and passenger are secured by QStraint belts
• 19 Accessible Vans
Yellow Cab
415-333-3333
• Safety restraint systems (in the floor tie down system) and unique seat belt system
• Priority service is given to elderly and disabled passengers
Wheelchair Accessible Ramp Taxi Program: There are 100 ramp medallions in San Francisco. Ramp medallions allow drivers to operate a wheelchair accessible taxi. The SFMTA has monthly wheelchair pick-up requirements (10 wheelchair pick-ups) that taxi companies and drivers must meet in order to enter into and maintain a use agreement to operate a ramp taxi medallion. The SFMTA is continually working to improve the ramp taxi service and will focus enforcement efforts to ensure the pick-up requirements are met. Given the nature of the business, with taxi medallion movement, the number of available wheelchair accessible taxis may fluctuate month to month at each taxi company. Taxi companies may not deny service to individuals because they use a wheelchair.
I have a friend who has passed recently & as different as it may sound she wanted me to post this about uber..2 words; once you go uber. You never go back. ..lol..kissess
You idiot. Uber does *not* provide wheelchair-accessible transportation.
Town taxi also no longer has wheelchair accessible taxis.
Thanks for the feedback Katie!
Jerks
How easy is it to get a ramp taxi from the airport into San Francisco. Should we book ahead.?
Thanks
We are coming over in Sept and my husband has a power chair
Jane
call Trust Medical Transportation TMT at phone # +(650)799-9921, http://www.trustmtrans.com
I have an extra wide power chair and am arriving in San Francisco on a late November evening 2019. Does anyone have current info on transporting me and a staff person? am worried about reling on the Paratransit system.
I would recommend that you update your site DRASTICALLY to reflect the current state of this matter in the Bay Area: – Town Taxi informed me today that they do not have ANY wheelchair accessible cabs. – A month ago, Serra Cab told me I would need to call DAYS in advance for a pick-up! Yet, today they told me I CANNOT call in advance for a Saturday pick-up. Your site comes up high on Google search, thus you have a MAJOR VOICE. Please update your images and write-up, so we can support the companies that serve this group the… Read more »
Are these taxis mobility scooter friendly?
In San Francisco – since Uber and Lyft don’t provide van service – and since they have driven the taxi van services – which were never easily available – out of business, and since Paratransit is unreliable for rides to appointments and movies in a timely manner….. it seems that this should be an opportunity for an enterprising person to start up a private wheelchair van service. Are there any? What do affluent people at senior living places use when they are in need of a non=medical transport to an appointment? According to this website such services are available in… Read more »
Don’t even get me started! In SF, NY and LA Uber and Lyft are discriminating against people who use wheelchairs. It drives me insane.
I was traveling with a friend in San Francisco in Sept 2017 when my accessible van broke down, the day we were scheduled to head home to Las Vegas. We ended up in a hotel in Bruno, right by the SFO Airport. But when the van took longer than expected, our hotel was sold out so we had to move hotels, 4.6 miles away… and after 4 hours of trying, we gave up on finding an accessible taxi/uber/lyft/etc. Every taxi company I called stated they could pick us up IN the city of San Francisco, but NOT where we were… Read more »
Thank you for sharing this. I feel you pain.
Dementia, Alzheimer’s and Mental Health Transportation Services Getting from point A to point B should be as easy as hopping in the car and going, but the reality is often very different depending on where you are in terms of your physical and mental health. When you need transportation services that are going to take all of those needs into consideration, where do you turn? To us at Trust Medical Transportation TMT. Living with dementia or Alzheimer’s means serious changes When you are living with either one of these conditions, your whole life changes. At the beginning, it simply feels… Read more »
No one is talking about transporting people with dementia or severe mental health issues; they can go in regular cars. Those of us who use *wheelchairs* need transportation – meaning vehicles with ramps or lifts so we can get into the vehicle.
Sheesh.
Getting a taxi *at all* in San Francisco can be a nightmare, even when one is fully able-bodied and ambulatory, even when there are no special events going on clogging the city with visitors, or during tourist season. There just aren’t that many, and in all the many years I lived there, there never were.
That does not mean they shouldn’t have better accessible transportation; I just wanted to put the lack of it in perspective.