In response to my first blog post, some of you asked some valid questions about whether offering a disabled or pregnant person a seat on the subway is required by law. To be honest, I didn’t think for a second that it was a law. If it is, then there are a whole lot of people breaking it.
So, I set out to do some research this week. Before hitting the internet to do some investigating, I wanted to search the NYC subway to see if there were any instructions or commandments about subway seating.
So, I set out to do some research this week. Before hitting the internet to do some investigating, I wanted to search the NYC subway to see if there were any instructions or commandments about subway seating.
Seat Sign
There was the familiar ‘priority seating for people with disabilities’ seat sign. I don’t know if these signs have much impact, nor do they say if it is enforceable by law.
Campaign Poster
The MTA has launched its annual etiquette campaign, which includes a poster encouraging riders to give up their seats to people with disabilities. According to the MTA, it is also the law. I don’t think this includes pregnant women or those carrying a baby.
T.V. Show Ads
I also remember seeing a series of ads for the T.V. show, Nurse Jackie, which gave riders etiquette advice. One of the posters told riders to get up for people who need a seat. Nurse Jackie certainly isn’t enforcing any laws, though.
I also remember seeing a series of ads for the T.V. show, Nurse Jackie, which gave riders etiquette advice. One of the posters told riders to get up for people who need a seat. Nurse Jackie certainly isn’t enforcing any laws, though.
The Law
I later searched on the MTA Web site. Under the Rules of Conduct, it states that:
“No person shall refuse or fail to relinquish a seat on a conveyance which has been designated as “PRIORITY SEATING,” “WHEELCHAIR PRIORITY SEATING”…, if requested to do so by or on behalf of a person with a disability…”
The penalties for not relinquishing your seat as appropriate range from a fine of $25 to time in jail. It is the law.
But that leaves a question as to what constitutes a disability. I don’t consider pregnancy a disability, nor do I consider holding a child one either. What do you think? What is a disability?
“No person shall refuse or fail to relinquish a seat on a conveyance which has been designated as “PRIORITY SEATING,” “WHEELCHAIR PRIORITY SEATING”…, if requested to do so by or on behalf of a person with a disability…”
The penalties for not relinquishing your seat as appropriate range from a fine of $25 to time in jail. It is the law.
But that leaves a question as to what constitutes a disability. I don’t consider pregnancy a disability, nor do I consider holding a child one either. What do you think? What is a disability?
