What Makes Ride A WAV Different From a Taxi or Rideshare?
When you need transportation, opening a rideshare app or calling a taxi may seem like the easiest option. But for someone who uses a wheelchair, a standard ride is not always a safe, comfortable, or dependable solution.
Will the vehicle have a ramp? Can the passenger remain in their wheelchair? Does the driver know how to secure the wheelchair correctly? Will there be room for a caregiver, mobility equipment, or luggage? Will the driver provide assistance beyond the curb?
These are important questions—and they are exactly why Ride A WAV is different.
Ride A WAV provides professional wheelchair-accessible transportation throughout New York City, Westchester County, Long Island, and surrounding areas. We serve passengers who need more support, more space, and greater peace of mind than a traditional taxi or standard rideshare vehicle may provide.
And just to make our name clear: it is Ride A WAV, not “Ride Away” or “Ride A Wave.” WAV stands for Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle—and accessibility is at the heart of everything we do.
1. Vehicles Designed for Wheelchair Transportation
Most standard taxis and rideshare vehicles are not designed to transport someone while they remain seated in a wheelchair. Even when an accessible option appears on an app, availability may be limited depending on the location, time, and demand.
Ride A WAV operates wheelchair-accessible vehicles equipped with ramps and securement systems. Passengers can enter the vehicle in their wheelchairs without transferring into a standard passenger seat.
This is especially important for people who:
Cannot safely transfer out of their wheelchairs
Use power wheelchairs
Travel with larger mobility devices
Need additional space for medical or personal equipment
Experience pain or discomfort during transfers
Feel safer remaining in their own wheelchairs
When you make a reservation, our team gathers information about your wheelchair, the number of passengers, and your transportation needs so we can send an appropriate vehicle.
2. Proper Wheelchair Securement
A wheelchair-accessible vehicle needs more than a ramp. The wheelchair must also be secured correctly inside the vehicle.
Ride A WAV drivers understand how to use wheelchair securement systems and passenger restraints. Before the vehicle moves, the driver makes sure the wheelchair is properly positioned and secured for the trip.
With a standard taxi or rideshare, the driver may never have transported a passenger in a wheelchair. They may not have the correct equipment or the experience needed to handle a mobility device safely.
At Ride A WAV, wheelchair transportation is not an occasional request. It is what we do every day.
3. Door-Through-Door Assistance
Many traditional transportation services operate from curb to curb. The driver arrives, the passenger enters the vehicle, and the ride ends when the passenger reaches the curb at the destination.
Ride A WAV provides door-through-door assistance when arranged as part of the trip. We do not believe passengers who need additional mobility support should simply be left at the curb.
Depending on the location and the passenger’s needs, a Ride A WAV driver may assist with:
Traveling from the building entrance to the vehicle
Safely using the vehicle ramp
Positioning and securing the wheelchair
Carrying reasonable personal belongings
Reaching the appropriate entrance at the destination
Making sure the passenger is safely inside before leaving
Ride A WAV cannot carry passengers up or down stairs, so it is important to tell our team about steps, narrow entrances, steep ramps, or other access concerns when booking.
4. A Real Team You Can Speak With
Rideshare apps are designed for speed and convenience, but getting help can sometimes mean navigating automated menus, online forms, or in-app messages.
Ride A WAV gives you access to a real customer service team.
If you need to explain a wheelchair type, change a pickup time, provide instructions for a facility, or ask about a caregiver traveling with you, you can speak with someone who understands wheelchair-accessible transportation.
This personal communication is especially helpful when coordinating:
Medical appointments
Hospital and rehabilitation discharges
Same-day procedures
Airport transportation
Nursing home and assisted-living pickups
Family celebrations
Concerts and sporting events
Recurring rides
We take the time to understand the trip before the vehicle arrives.
5. Transportation That Can Be Scheduled in Advance
A rideshare request is often made shortly before someone needs to leave. That may work for a flexible trip, but it can create stress when timing is important or an accessible vehicle is difficult to find.
Ride A WAV allows passengers, families, facilities, and care coordinators to schedule transportation in advance.
Advance reservations are helpful when you have:
A specific appointment time
A scheduled hospital discharge
An early flight
A Broadway performance
A wedding or family gathering
A concert or sporting event
A recurring medical appointment
A return ride later in the day
Scheduled transportation gives you a plan instead of leaving you to search for an available accessible vehicle at the last minute.
Same-day service may also be available. Call us as soon as possible, and our team will check current vehicle availability.
6. Room for a Caregivers or a Family Member with no extra cost
Transportation should help people stay connected—not separate them from the people who support them.
Depending on the vehicle selected and total passenger count, a caregiver, companion, or family member may travel with the wheelchair user. We do not charge an extra passenger fee for a a caregiver or a family member riding with our client.
7. More Space for Equipment and Luggage
A standard car may not have room for a wheelchair, walker, oxygen equipment, bags, and additional passengers.
Ride A WAV offers accessible vehicles with more space for mobility equipment and personal belongings. This makes our service a helpful option for airport transfers, longer trips, and passengers traveling with a caregiver.
We provide wheelchair-accessible transportation to and from:
John F. Kennedy International Airport
LaGuardia Airport
Newark Liberty International Airport
Westchester County Airport
Hotels, cruise terminals, and other travel destinations
When booking an airport ride, tell us how many passengers, suitcases, wheelchairs, and mobility devices you will have.
8. Service for Medical Rides—and Much More
Ride A WAV is trusted for doctor’s appointments, therapy, dialysis, hospital transportation, and rehabilitation visits. But we do much more than medical rides.
You can call Ride A WAV when you want to go to:
A restaurant
A Broadway show
A concert
A museum
A sporting event
A shopping center
A wedding
A birthday celebration
A religious service
A family gathering
An accessible park or scenic destination
Wheelchair-accessible transportation should help people live their lives—not only attend appointments.
9. Clean, Comfortable, Well-Cared-For Vehicles
A clean vehicle can make a major difference, especially for older adults, people with disabilities, and passengers traveling after a medical procedure.
Keeping our fleet clean and cared for is one of our priorities. We want passengers to feel comfortable and respected from the moment the vehicle arrives until they reach their destination.
Our goal is to provide an experience that feels professional and personal—not rushed or uncertain.
10. Service Built Around the Passenger
A taxi or rideshare is primarily designed to move the general public from one location to another. Ride A WAV is specifically designed around the needs of wheelchair users, older adults, families, and people who require additional mobility support.
That difference affects every part of the ride:
The type of vehicle we send
How the passenger enters
How the wheelchair is secured
How the trip is scheduled
How pickup instructions are communicated
How caregivers and family members are included
How the passenger is assisted at the destination
Every passenger deserves to feel safe, respected, and supported.
Is Ride A WAV More Expensive Than a Taxi or Rideshare?
Ride A WAV may cost more than a standard taxi or rideshare because it is a specialized transportation service.
The price reflects the accessible vehicle, professional wheelchair securement, additional time, personalized coordination, and assistance provided throughout the trip. You are not simply paying for the distance between two addresses. You are paying for transportation designed around the passenger’s mobility and safety needs.
We believe families should understand what they are booking. Contact our team for pricing based on the pickup location, destination, schedule, trip type, and vehicle required.
Experience the Ride A WAV Difference
Finding transportation should not mean wondering whether the vehicle will be accessible or whether the driver can accommodate your wheelchair.
With Ride A WAV, accessibility is not an extra feature. It is the foundation of our service.
Whether you are going to a doctor’s appointment, catching a flight, seeing a Broadway show, meeting friends for dinner, or attending an important family celebration, we are here to help you travel with confidence.
Ride A WAV serves New York City, Westchester County, Long Island, and surrounding areas.
Call 914-339-6005 or visit www.rideawav.com to request your wheelchair-accessible ride.
Ride A WAV—Moving People Forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does WAV stand for?
WAV stands for Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle. Ride A WAV is pronounced “Ride A W-A-V,” not “Ride Away” or “Ride A Wave.”
Can passengers remain in their wheelchairs?
Yes. Ride A WAV’s accessible vehicles allow passengers to remain seated in their wheelchairs during transportation. The wheelchair is properly positioned and secured inside the vehicle.
Does Ride A WAV provide more than medical transportation?
Yes. Ride A WAV provides transportation for medical appointments, airport trips, restaurants, shopping, Broadway shows, concerts, sporting events, weddings, religious services, and family celebrations.
Can a caregiver or family member ride along?
Yes, depending on vehicle capacity. Ride A WAV does not charge an extra passenger fee for a caregiver or family member riding with the client. Provide the total number of passengers when booking.
Does Ride A WAV offer door-through-door service?
Yes, door-through-door assistance can be arranged. However, drivers cannot carry passengers or wheelchairs up or down stairs. Tell the booking team about any steps or access concerns.
How do I reserve a Ride A WAV vehicle?
Call 914-339-6005 or visit www.rideawav.com to request a ride. Provide your pickup address, destination, schedule, wheelchair type, number of passengers, and any special instructions.
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