Boston, like all other U.S. cities, has taken the required steps to provide access for people with disabilities. Hotels must provide accessible rooms, and museums and street curbs have ramps for wheelchairs. Some smaller accommodations, including most B&Bs, have not been retrofitted. In older neighborhoods (notably Beacon Hill and the North End), you'll find many narrow streets, cobbled thoroughfares, and brick sidewalks that can make getting around difficult. In the construction areas that dot the entire metropolitan area, especially in downtown Boston, you may have to negotiate uneven road surfaces and pedestrian detours.
Most stations on the Red, Blue, and Orange subway lines are wheelchair accessible. The Green Line, which uses trolleys, is problematic; some stops have ramps, lifts, or both; construction is under way or in the works at others; and some are inaccessible. Contact the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (tel. 800/392-6100 or 617/222-3200; www.mbta.com) for details about the stations you need and possible work-arounds. For service updates on elevators, escalators, and lifts, call the toll-free number and press 6, call tel. 617/222-2828, or visit the "Rider Tools" area of the website. All MBTA buses have lifts or ramps. To learn more, contact the Office for Transportation Access, 10 Park Plaza, Room 5750, Boston, MA 02116 (tel. 800/533-6282 within MA or 617/222-5123; TTY 617/222-5415; www.mbta.com; under "Riding the T," click "Accessibility at the T").
One taxi company with wheelchair-accessible vehicles is Boston Cab; advance notice is recommended.
An excellent resource for out-of-towners with mobility issues is VSA Arts Massachusetts.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
