- The first wheelchair-accessible Ford Transit Connect Taxi has entered service in New York City
- Transit Connect offers an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant rear entry option for taxi companies, clinics, nursing homes and any other business that transports wheelchair passengers
- The wheelchair-accessibility solution by MobilityWorks Commercial quickly converts Transit Connect Taxi between conventional operation and barrier-free accessibility
DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 15, 2012 – Taxi operators looking for a fuel-efficient
wheelchair-accessible vehicle have a new solution – Ford Transit Connect
customized by MobilityWorks Commercial.
MobilityWorks Commercial is a
national commercial van upfitter specializing in customizing vehicles for
handicap access. A Ford Qualified Vehicle Modifier, MobilityWorks Commercial
recently completed and deployed the first Ford Transit Connect mobility vehicle
as a New York City Taxi.
Since its introduction in 2010, Ford
Transit Connect Taxi has entered service in major metropolitan areas from coast
to coast.
“The strong taxi fleet sales we’ve
seen for Transit Connect are proof that taxi operators are recognizing the
Transit Connect for its roominess, comfort and durability,” said Len Deluca,
Ford’s North American director of commercial vehicles. “A logical next
step was to offer a mobility solution for taxi operators looking to comfortably
and efficiently serve persons with disabilities.”
The initial Transit Connect mobility
taxi was purchased and put into service by Brooklyn-based McGuinness
Management, which operates nearly 50 traditional cabs in Manhattan.
“I drove it personally and found it
to be a lot more comfortable than any other taxi I’ve ever driven,” said Chris
Harisopoulos, general manager, McGuinness Management. “The roominess is
great thing about this vehicle for both passengers and drivers… It’s just a great
taxi.”
The Transit Connect mobility taxi
offers a number of benefits for the ambulatory and persons with disabilities,
such as a rear wheelchair ramp to keep passengers out of passing traffic lanes
and a short, lowered ramp to speed up entry and exit.
The exclusive FlexFlat ramp, a
strong yet lightweight manual ramp, is fast and easy to deploy. When stowed it
creates a useable deck for cargo – adding convenience for drivers and
passengers alike.
“The Transit Connect mobility taxi
offers drivers and passengers something you can’t find in other accessible
vehicles, including safety for all passengers, economical operating costs, ease
of use and comfort,” said Taylor Clark, president, commercial operations,
MobilityWorks.
Before mobility upfit, Transit
Connect Taxi offers an outstanding interior package for people and cargo. With
its open architecture, the taxi provides excellent interior headroom and
passenger visibility.
The taxi model’s rear seat has been
moved back three inches to maximize passenger comfort. With 6.5 inches of
ground clearance, passengers can step easily through the dual sliding side
doors. Additional climate control ventilation has been added for rear seat
passenger comfort.
For its payload capacity, Transit
Connect delivers unmatched fuel economy of 22 mpg city and 27 mpg highway for
wagon models.
“We continue to see exceptional
sales for the Transit Connect since its North American launch in 2009,” said
Kevin Koswick, Ford’s North American director of fleet, lease and remarketing
operations. “The forthcoming introduction of the all-new Transit Connect in
2014 will further expand Ford’s leadership in this segment, offering fleet
owners, taxi operators, drivers and passengers additional improvements,
refinements and choices.”
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