In the next two decades, New Yorkers 65 and older will account for 18 percent of the city’s population, according to the AARP. And they’re going to need a lot more elevators than the transit system currently offers.
It’s uncertain how many stations the MTA considers ‘possible’ for accessibility. Some, maybe several, may never be able to accommodate wheelchairs.
Because so little of the subway system is accessible to the mobility impaired, buses play a vital role for people living with disabilities or aging New Yorkers who have trouble navigating stairs. But crowding and delays affect those riders even more than others.