[Massachusetts-NFB] Uber denials with the Ride flex

Fri Jul 21 20:44:15 UTC 2023

Thank you all so much for your interest in the responses. If you would please respond to me at my personal email, rather than   on the email list. This is just to keep our email list a little less  congested for everyone. Thanks so much. 

Shara Winton

sharawinton at gmail.com <mailto:sharawinton at gmail.com> 

617-304-0347

From: Massachusetts-NFB <massachusetts-nfb-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Jennifer Bose via Massachusetts-NFB
Sent: Thursday, July 20, 2023 10:10 PM
To: NFB of Massachusetts E-mail List <massachusetts-nfb at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Jennifer Bose <jen10514 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Massachusetts-NFB] Uber denials with the Ride flex

I have been denied rides with my dog. That hasn’t happened to me through the Ride flex app, but I don’t use that program. Too much anyway right now. I will have to see once I use it a little bit more this month. I have had denials through Uber and Lyft, though, Once in a while from my home, but mostly when I’m somewhere else.  

It’s great that we are gathering this information and trying to do some thing about this pervasive problem.

Jen.

Sent from my iPhone

On Jul 20, 2023, at 4:22 PM, Stephanie Paoli via Massachusetts-NFB <massachusetts-nfb at nfbnet.org <mailto:massachusetts-nfb at nfbnet.org> > wrote:

Hi Hai had many denials with over over the years. I think my most recent one was last year in August when I got denied it three times in a row. I have also been denied with Lyft, but I normally just use Uber due to the fact that I have the pilot program. The only difference is that when I have been denied with Lift, they have removed the drivers from the platform and giving me the access to what’s going on on the investigation. With Uber, I have only receive a credit back into my account and nothing else.

Sent from my iPhone

On Jul 20, 2023, at 1:43 PM, Shara Winton via Massachusetts-NFB <massachusetts-nfb at nfbnet.org <mailto:massachusetts-nfb at nfbnet.org> > wrote:

Right now, we are simply attempting to find out the frequency of these denials and how it is affecting the riders. 

As this progress’s I will let you know. Thanks. 

Shara

From: Justin Heard <braillemasterjustin at gmail.com <mailto:braillemasterjustin at gmail.com> > 
Sent: Thursday, July 20, 2023 9:49 AM
To: NFB of Massachusetts E-mail List <massachusetts-nfb at nfbnet.org <mailto:massachusetts-nfb at nfbnet.org> >
Cc: sharawinton at gmail.com <mailto:sharawinton at gmail.com> 
Subject: Re: [Massachusetts-NFB] Uber denials with the Ride flex

Good morning. 

What exactly is our goal? Are we trying to mount pressure on Uber, or pressure MBTA to remove rideshare from the Ride Flex program? 

Service animal denials are frequent with both Uber and Lyft. I would hate for us to target Uber when Uber has, at least on the surface, been working with NAGDU. 

Don't get me wrong. I'm all for pressuring Uber and Lyft to do their part in stopping discrimination. However, I would hate to see either Uber and Lyft disappear from the MBTA program. 

On 7/19/2023 5:28 PM, Shara Winton via Massachusetts-NFB wrote:

Hello All, 

Most recently, Several RIDE Flex participants have shared repeated complaints an videos of Uber drivers refusing riders with service and guide dogs. The MBTA cannot legally use state and federal funding to subcontract with an entity that they are fully aware is discriminating against a subset of the population that they are contracted to serve. Uber states that "the state and federal law prohibits drivers using the Uber Driver app from denying service to riders with service animals because of the service animals and from otherwise discriminating against riders with service animals." However, this problem continues to happen. I am looking to gather stories relating to any guide or service dog users who have experienced any Uber or Lyft refusals, whether through the RIDE Flex paratransit program or the regular app. Would you all   please share this message with your network and members?

Shara Winton

President, National Federation of the Blind of Massachusetts

617-304-0347

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