[nagdu] Blind people say cab drivers ignore them

[Albert J Rizzi]

I think your position on the cultural thing is more accurate. I have had
drivers speed away even after having a sighted person hail the cab, door
open and all. I have had to reach into a car while someone else opened the
door or stood in front of the cab while I got in. I have had this problem
with Muslims, Asians and just some down right annoying white men. It is then
and only then that my frustrations with my blindness and my rights being
violated that I become this uncontrollable  monster using every four letter
word in the book I can muster. yet not one of the drivers ever call the
police as I ask them to do. 20/20 or some other like news program had done a
study on white males and black males in everyday society to underscore the
ever present discriminatory practices still present in our nation. The
drivers would pick up the white guy and more often then not speed past the
black guy. I for one feel this is the very same yet very different. we are
being discriminated against and we have little or no recourse when we cannot
properly file a complaint on a yellow blur speeding away. ignorance can be
bliss, but boy oh boy is it a pain in the arse when you are trying to make
an appointment or train or plane in a timely manner. But I have also had
wonderful and uplifting moments in Manhattan where the drivers were so kind
and so genuine  some even refused to take money for the ride, but they did
get a nice tip. It seems to be the luck of the draw, but luck should have
nothing at all to do with public travel. Peace.

Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
CEO/Founder
My Blind Spot, Inc.
90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
New York, New York  10004
www.myblindspot.org
PH: 917-553-0347
Fax: 212-858-5759
"The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one who is
doing it."


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-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Tracy Carcione
Sent: Friday, March 19, 2010 9:04 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Blind people say cab drivers ignore them

This happens in New York City, too.  If I have to get a taxi on the street
in the city, I try to get someone else to hail it for me while I stand
back like I'm not interested.  Then when they stop I jump in.  I usually
don't try to get a taxi, because it can be such a hassle.
However, last year when I was visiting the hospital a lot, the taxi
drivers that wait out front for possible fares would call out to me and my
husband, asking if we wanted a taxi, which we often did.  It was a
refreshing change from the usual. So maybe the NYC taxi drivers are
getting the idea.  Or maybe it's a culture thing--the drivers around the
hospital are mostly Dominicans, who don't seem to have a cultural bias
against dogs.
Tracy

> Blind People Say Cab Drivers Ignore Them
> Cab Company Says It's Not Illegal Not To Stop
>
> POSTED: Tuesday, March 16, 2010
> UPDATED: 7:37 am EDT March 17,2010
> Source: http://www.justnews.com/news/22856062/detail.html
>
>
> MIAMI -- Getting around South Florida is nearly impossible for
> blind members of our community. Some people say that instead of
> stopping, cab drivers knowingly pass blind people by.
>
> Video
> Miami Beach resident David New told Local 10 that, nine out of 10
> times, when he is hailing a cab, the driver refuses to stop.
>
> New said that cab drivers who did stop often told him, "'No dogs
> in my cab.'"
>
> State and federal laws say that service animals must be permitted
> to accompany any individual with a disability wherever the
> general public is allowed to go. It is against the Americans with
> Disabilities Act for a taxicab driver to refuse to pick someone
> up because of a service animal.
>
> Local 10 cameras accompanied New to Collins Avenue and 13th
> Street in Miami. Several empty cabs slowed down and then the
> drivers looked and took off.
>
> The general manager of Super Yellow Cab said drivers are not
> required to stop.
>
> "There is nothing illegal about not stopping," he said. "By law,
> it's not mandatory for them to stop at any passenger on the
> street, especially if they feel it could be a dangerous job."
>
> Miami-Dade Consumer Affairs licenses cab drivers in the county. A
> spokesperson said a driver who fails to pick up person because of
> a guide dog could be fined or suspended.
>
> "This is part of their training. It's ingrained in them during
> their training. The issue is thoroughly covered. They can't claim
> ignorance," said Consumer Affairs spokeswoman Sonya Perez.
>
> "Hopefully people will start to understand this is really
> discrimination," New said.
>
> The CEO of the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind recently had an
> incident at Miami International Airport. Virginia Jacko said a
> cab driver refused to take her and her guide dog to Coconut
> Grove.
>
> "The county employee who was helping me tried to tell him he had
> to take me. They got into a shouting match and were screaming at
> each other," Jacko said.
>
> To file a complaint with Miami-Dade Consumer Services, visit the
> Miami-Dade County Web site.
>
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