See the below article from Disability Scoop about Mayor Bloomberg being against making more wheelchair-accessible taxis:
He cites three reasons: (1) taxis will have lower suspension and thus people won't want to ride in them; and (2) the wider gap between passenger seat and divider would lead to injuries or just plain inconvenience; and (3) too expensive. Frankly, I don't know anything about the suspension, don't know that I would recognize lower suspension if I saw it, and don't know that it would dissuade me from getting in a taxi for 6 blocks. Next - people are going to get hurt because of the wider gap? Couldn't they just be extra mindful not to stand up or get out of their seats while the vehicle is moving, or put on a seatbelt? I guess the final reason - money - is always a legitimate consideration when it comes to government spending. I don't know the numbers but there's got to be a way to make it cost-effective. There isn't? Well then maybe the mayor can cover the difference. He pledged to go into his pockets once already this year - perhaps he'd be willing to do it again.