[nagdu] Re Guide Dog and taxis

Fri Jul 29 23:05:13 UTC 2011

Gary and all,
    I generally advise that one not give advance notice that we will be 
traveling with a guide dog. The presence of the service dog is irrelevant to 
whether or not they transport you. If the dispatcher broadcasts, "I'm 
looking for someone willing to take a fare with a dog!" you may wait longer 
for a ride than if they didn't know. This sets you up for the type of 
discrimination known as an unequal benefit. I have dealt with several people 
who gave advance notice and regretted it because of the long wait times. 
JMHO!

Fraternally yours,
Marion


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "GARY STEEVES" <rainshadowmusic at shaw.ca>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, July 29, 2011 6:13 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Re Guide Dog and taxis


>
> Hi:
>
> Generally, I don't have a problem just telling the company I have a dog 
> since, if there is the potential for an issue this should remove it. The 
> issue I have and am going to talk to my current cab company about is that 
> they have one letter symbols for things. I learned this two weeks ago when 
> three trips in a row I got a van cab. I found out that my file had a V for 
> van and A for animal. I think they need to add another symbol that 
> represents service dogs since an animal is a bit vague. I got cabs who 
> don't mind dogs but sometimes I think they believe it is a pet, especially 
> cuz it's a poodle which they never see as guide dogs. Also, being that we 
> are getting picked up right in front of my house and I've usually just 
> been walking bogart around the block for his morning relief, he is often 
> not in harness. the harness is in  my hand. However, why I use the same 
> company all the time is so that many drivers get to know me and often show 
> up with the front passenger seat put way forward to
> give Bogart more room and cute things like that.
>
> Gary
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Tami Kinney <tamara.8024 at comcast.net>
> Date: Friday, July 29, 2011 2:34 pm
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Re Guide Dog Forced to Ride in Trunk
> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
>
>> Lyn,
>>
>> Well said. When I lived nearer to downtown, I would just tell the
>> dispatcher about the dog, although it seems they do have a note about
>> her attached to my number. This actually worked in my favor
>> there, where
>> you couldn't swing a cat without hitting one of their cabs. Now I'm
>> still in the Portland Metro area, but apparently this does not prevent
>> me living in the boonies as far as the cab companies are
>> concerned. So
>> I've learned to just fail to mention anything at all about a dog or
>> being blind or anything because that does seem to increase the
>> odds a
>> cab will get out here eventually. I've tried a couple of other
>> companiesthat supposedly serve this area, but... Sigh. Anyway,
>> if they want to
>> drive all the way out here and then refuse to take my dog, I
>> guess I'll
>> be putting up a big fuss about that, won't I? /evil grin/
>>
>> Then again, what with having a private driver and on-demand car
>> serviceright here, I guess I won't be giving many cabby's an
>> opportunity to
>> refuse me a ride because of my dog.  Ain't that just too
>> bad for
>> me. /lol/
>>
>> Either way, with cabs or hotel reservations or whatever, I tend
>> to do
>> what I believe is most likely to achieve the best results when
>> it comes
>> to deciding whether to mention the dog beforehand or not. Which
>> does not
>> mean I always make the right guess, but I have had few hassles, so
>> that's what matters to me. /smile/
>>
>> Tami
>>
>> On Thu, 2011-07-28 at 12:42 -0700, Lyn Gwizdak wrote:
>> > I agree with you, Bibi.  I will tell the cab dispach that
>> I have a guide dog
>> > and to just send a driver who has no problem with a dog.
>> this way, I get my
>> > cab and no BSing with the driver.  People do what you
>> feel is best for you.
>> > There's no right or wrong in this matter.
>> >
>> > Lyn and Landon
>> > ----- Original Message ----- 
>> > From: "Criminal Justice Major Extraordinaire"
>> <orleans24 at comcast.net>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National
>> Association of Guide Dog Users"
>> > <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> > Sent: Saturday, July 23, 2011 5:54 PM
>> > Subject: Re: [nagdu] Re Guide Dog Forced to Ride in Trunk
>> >
>> >
>> > > Hi, Brenda,
>> > > I remember when attending a couple of guide dog schools and
>> not hearing
>> > > one word or thing mentioned about if being asked by a cab
>> driver to put
>> > > the dog in a trunk of the car.
>> > > Thankfully, I've not had any experiences with that and
>> hopefully with my
>> > > fourth guide, that won't happen either.
>> > > I know many people here won't agree with what I'm about to
>> say here, but
>> > > here it goes...
>> > > There were times I'd just go ahead and let the cab company
>> know that I
>> > > have a guide dog and it did help and minimize a possible problem.
>> > > In the same aspect, I'd get a cab quickly too.
>> > > I only would do this during stressful situations to avoid
>> getting
>> > > frustrated around Odie.
>> > > He is one sensitive boy who would pick up on my anxiety
>> rather quickly.
>> > > If I knew where that dog handler was living here in
>> Colorado, I'd gladly
>> > > help her out or at least be willing to give her some
>> encouragement and
>> > > advice on dealing with situations like that.
>> > > unfortunately, I have no idea if she lives in Denver or
>> another city close
>> > > by to me.
>> > > If someone told me to put Odie in the trunk, I'd happily say
>> right on tthe
>> > > spot, "Would you like it if I just rolled you up and stuck
>> you in that
>> > > area?"
>> > > I know. I'm a tough person when it comes to stuff like that.
>> > > *Smiles*
>> > > Bibi and Odie
>> > > the retired one
>> > >
>> > > _______________________________________________
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>> >
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