Written by John Morris, WheelchairTravel.org, November 7, 2023

Wheelchair Taxis in Pittsburgh

ADA compliant wheelchair accessible taxi vans with rear entry wheelchair ramps are available within the City of Pittsburgh and are charged at the same meter rates as a normal taxi.

Traditional Wheelchair Taxis

Wheelchair taxis can be ordered on demand within the city and at Pittsburgh International Airport, but wait times can be long. The following companies offer adapted wheelchair taxis and are authorized to make pick-ups within the City of Pittsburgh:

VETaxi
www.vetaxi.com
+1 (412) 481-8387

Yellow Cab of Pittsburgh (zTrip)
www.pittsburghyellowcab.com
+1 (412) 777-7777

The following meter rates apply are approved by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission and apply to both standard taxi cabs and wheelchair taxis provided by the traditional cab companies:

Flag Drop + First 1/7 mile — $2.25
Each additional mile — $1.75
Waiting time (per minute) — $0.25

Requesting a wheelchair taxi ride an hour or more in advance of your trip will increase the likelihood of an on-time pick-up. For late-night or early-morning trips, requests should be made much earlier (12-24 hours).

Rideshare Services

Numerous rideshare services operate within the City of Pittsburgh, including Uber and Lyft. Unfortunately, none offer wheelchair accessible vehicles. If you live in or visit Pittsburgh, I encourage you to write members of the city council and the mayor, encouraging them to make on-demand transportation affordable and accessible to all.

Pittsburgh Sidewalk Accessibility

Wheelchair accessible sidewalks in Pittsburgh.

The age of the City of Pittsburgh, coupled with the limited infrastructure investments in recent decades, has led many of its sidewalks to fall into disrepair. While downtown Pittsburgh is very wheelchair-friendly, sidewalks outside of the city center may pose challenges in certain areas. Fortunately, few barriers are truly impassable, and most wheelchair users will have little trouble navigating the city on wheels.

Wheelchair Accessibility of Pittsburgh Sidewalks

In considering how to rate the accessibility of sidewalks in Pittsburgh, I considered those that I encountered while navigating the downtown and tourist areas of the city – the routes most likely to be taken by visitors like you. My overall conclusion was that Pittsburgh sidewalk accessibility is moderately good, and the photographs below provide an illustration of what I saw.

The Best in Sidewalk Accessibility

The following series of images represents some of the city’s most accessible sidewalks:

10th Street crosswalk in downtown Pittsburgh.

Crosswalk with curb ramp in front of PNC Park.

Accessible sidewalk across the Andy Warhol Bridge.

Curb ramp with tactile features for the blind.

Wheelchair accessible sidewalk and crosswalk.

As you can see, many of the major tourist routes, including those in downtown Pittsburgh and across the city’s popular bridges, have wheelchair-friendly sidewalks and crosswalks.

Some Pittsburgh sidewalks may pose challenges for wheelchair users

Many of Pittsburgh’s sidewalks are old, making them vulnerable to potholes, cracks and other barriers to those of us on wheels. In certain rare circumstances, a sidewalk may not have a curb ramp, or the curb ramp that does exist may be too steep. The following images highlight a selection of issues I encountered while rolling around Pittsburgh.

An extremely steep curb ramp in Downtown Pittsburgh.

Badly broken sidewalk on Wild Pl., alongside the Pittsburgh Zoo.

Extremely rough, uneven walkway along Fort Duquesne Blvd.

Cracked pavement and misaligned curb ramp.

Crosswalk without a curb ramp to access the sidewalk.

Despite these barriers, there is always an alternate route. When I encountered a downtown crosswalk without a curb ramp (pictured above), I simply rolled to the next intersection and used that crosswalk, which was accessible. Impassable obstacles are rare. But the city should invest in sidewalk repair and resurfacing to make getting around easier for wheelchair users. Fortunately, the city has just received $1 million from the state government to do just that (source).

Reporting sidewalk barriers to the city government

The City of Pittsburgh operates a 311 Response system, allowing members of the public to alert the government of non-emergency issues and concerns. Following my Pittsburgh trip, I submitted several sidewalk repair requests via the 311 Response web form.

Reporting a sidewalk accessibility issue to Pittsburgh 311 Response.

I will report back here once my submissions have been addressed, and I hope you too will utilize Pittsburgh 311 to report any obstacles you encounter when visiting the city!

Pittsburgh Sports Teams & Stadiums

Wheelchair accessible sporting events in Pittsburgh.

The City of Pittsburgh has several nicknames which have stood the test of time. One of these is “City of Champions,” which alludes to the oversized success of the professional sports teams that call Pittsburgh home. Together, the city’s three professional sports teams – the Pittsburgh Pirates, Steelers and Penguins, lay claim to 16 championships.

For sports fans with disabilities, Pittsburgh is a great place to attend events. ADA compliant, wheelchair accessible stadiums are a reality, allowing fans an equal opportunity to participate in the city’s championship culture. Find further information on the accessibility of Pittsburgh sports venues below.

Pittsburgh Pirates (MLB)

Founded in 1892, the Pittsburgh Pirates have had a long history in the Steel City, and are the 4th oldest team in Major League Baseball history. The Pirates have won five World Series championships, most recently in 1979.

Since 2001, the Pirates have played ball at PNC Park, a modern facility with excellent wheelchair access. PNC Park is located at:

115 Federal Street
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15212

The ballpark is located just three blocks from the North Side light rail station. The North Side station is fully wheelchair accessible and is within the downtown free fare zone. Fans making their way to the ballpark from downtown may also enjoy crossing the Allegheny River via the iconic Roberto Clemente/6th Street Bridge.

For information on ADA seating and tickets to Pittsburgh Pirates games, visit www.mlb.com/pirates.

To read a detailed review of wheelchair accessibility at Pirates games, read my article on an Accessible Gameday with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL)

The six Super Bowl championships won by the Pittsburgh Steelers are the most won by any team in NFL history. Founded in 1933 and having more than 600 wins, the team ranks 4th in the league in total victories. The Steelers are an important part of Pittsburgh culture, and the “Steeler Nation” is filled with pride in the team’s accomplishments.

The Steelers play at Heinz Field, which opened prior to the 2001 football season and seats more than 69,000 fans. The stadium is located at:

100 Art Rooney Avenue
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15212

The stadium is located directly across the street from the Allegheny light rail station. Allegheny Station is fully wheelchair accessible and is within the downtown free fare zone.

For information on ADA seating and tickets, visit www.steelers.com. For additional information on accessibility at the stadium, read the stadium’s Disabilities Guide at www.heinzfield.com.

Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL)

With five Stanley Cup trophies, the Pittsburgh Penguins have also done their fare share in contributing to the city’s championship atmosphere. The Penguins most recently hoisted the cup in 2017, successfully defending their 2016 title and the first team to do so since the Detroit Red Wings in 1998. The team plays hockey at PPG Paints Arena, which opened in 2010. The arena is located at:

1001 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219

The PPG Paints Arena is only 0.3 miles from the Steel Plaza light rail station. Steel Plaza Station is fully wheelchair accessible, and is located within the city’s free fare zone.

For information on ADA seating and tickets to Pittsburgh Penguins games, visit www.nhl.com/penguins.

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