The US Access Board has extended the deadline for public comments on the revised draft guidelines for passenger vessel access. The original deadline was September 5, 2006, and although it hasn’t been announced in the Federal Register yet, the extended deadline is expected to be approximately November 6, 2006.
As with the first comment period, this extension was granted at the request of the ICCL and the Passenger Vessel Association. Interestingly enough, none of the major cruise lines submitted comments prior to the original deadline, so I have to assume they were expecting the extension.
No matter, that means we all have more time to submit comments. Again, if you’ve ever had trouble booking a cruise because of the limited number of accessible cabins, let the Access Board know this. Why? Because the cruise lines actually want to decrease the number of accessible cabins!
The good news is, 12 individuals have already sent in their comments. Here is a break down of the topics they covered.
- Increase Number of Accessible Cabins (5)
- Accommodations for Deaf Cruisers (2)
- General Mobility Access Issues (2)
- ABs Booking Accessible Cabins (1)
- Access on Ferries (1)
- Special Diets (1)
On the business side of things, 9 comments were submitted. Here are the issues they addressed:
- Comment Period Extended (2)
- Lift Specifications (1)
- Accessible Slot Machines (1)
- Small Charter Vessels (1) - This was an interesting comment from a disabled outfitter who thought the proposed regulations were too stringent as he operates an older boat and provides physical assistance instead of mechanical assistance to his passengers.
- Increase Number of Accessible Cabins (1) - That’s me!
- Expedition Ships (1) - Probably the most egregious of the business comments, this expedition ship owner claims that disabled people are not interested in these high energy cruises, so he feels the guidelines should be loosened (and in some cases eliminated) for this type of cruise ship.
- Water Taxis (1) - From a legal group in New York, asking the Access Board to specifically include water taxis in the guidelines.
- Houseboats (1) - Question form a houseboat rental company inquiring about access requirements on their rental houseboats.
So, you still have time to send in your comments.
Comments can be e-mailed to pvag@access-board.gov, faxed to (202) 272-0081 or mailed to Office of Technical and Information Services, Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board, 1331 F Street NW, suite 1000, Washington, DC 20004-1111. Be sure and include Docket No. 2004-1 in all of your correspondence on this subject. Comments sent by e-mail will be considered only if they contain the full name and address of the sender in the text.
And if you’d like to read the public comments, check out the Access Board website at http://www.access-board.gov/
pvaac/comments-rev/index.htm.
