Accessible Transportation

You’ll find New Orleans is pretty easy to navigate by walker, wheelchair or scooter. Whether you’re traveling by bus, streetcar, cab, or even taking a self-guided tour, there are plenty of ways to get from A to B.

Buses

The New Orleans Regional Transport Authority (RTA) has incorporated necessary features and equipment on all buses to allow persons with limited mobility to travel comfortably.

RTA Bus features include:

• The capability for riders to “kneel,” or tilt closer to the curb
• Ramps that fold out to make a bridge between the bus and the curb
• Areas where wheelchairs can be secured
• Priority seating areas
• Automatic announcements for bus stops and permission to bring service animals on board for visually impaired passengers

Streetcars

The streetcar experience is also feasible for travelers with wheelchairs. The red streetcars that travel on the Canal Street, Riverfront and Rampart-St. Claude lines are accessible. (Unfortunately, the green streetcars on the St. Charles Avenue line are National Historic Landmarks and were not equipped for persons requiring mobility devices.)

Red streetcar features include:

• Lifts that elevate riders and allow them to board
• Areas where wheelchairs can be secured
• Priority seating areas

If you have a mobility limitation that prevents you from riding the standard bus or streetcar transportation system, you may qualify for paratransit rides. A bus or minivan will pick you up and drop you off at just about any location in New Orleans. Click here for more information on how to apply for the RTA paratransit system and click here for more information on riding the bus or streetcar with a mobility device.

Cabs

Cabs in New Orleans are affordable and easy to find, especially Downtown and in the French Quarter. Most standard cabs in the city have plenty of room for storing wheelchairs and significantly more wheelchair accessible cabs are being introduced to the city. Click here for a list of cab companies with wheelchair accessible options like ramps and lifts.

Accessible Placards for Rental Cars

If you choose to rent a car, you can apply for a Accessible placard by calling 504-483-4610.