[nagdu] guide dogs and cab drivers

[Cindy Ray via nagdu]

Hi, all,

I am assuming that all get these messages still even with the changes. I wonder how I’ll know. *smile*

Elizabeth, I agree with you. In Minneapolis once we had a driver insist on seeing to all of our transportation because we had had a driver among us who wasn’t willing to take dogs. It is nice when someone is concerned that way, but it doesn’t do the kind of educating we need to do. I have had a cab driver tell me I need to let them know I have the dog because of the possible allergies that drivers may have to dogs. I told him it was not a requirement; he insisted that it was and that I was being inconsiderate. To put out a note like that gives cab drivers the option of quietly not taking the fare. They can do it more easily now than before because of the computers used to call up drivers for fares. Once a driver knows you are using a dog, you can always be refused by that driver and you will never know the difference. Someone else might sometime though if that driver happens upon a person with a dog who had not been marked in the system.

Cindy

On May 12, 2014, at 9:28 AM, Elizabeth Campbell via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> Good morning all,
> 
> 
> 
> I wanted to relate an incident that happened yesterday after I finished
> shopping at the SuperTarget near my house.
> 
> I called a cab,and when the driver pulled in to the parking lot, she said
> she wasn't going to take my dog, and before I could politely tell her that
> it was illegal for her to refuse me, another customer pushed in front of me
> and began yelling at the woman. I explained that I was quite used to
> handling these situations and that sometimes, all it took was a little
> educating and explaining to make folks understand, but the man was getting
> really belligerent with the driver. She finally said that Gabe could ride in
> the trunk which was totally unacceptable. I told her that she could lose her
> job and that I could also call the police if she didn't transport me. Before
> I could say anything else, the woman drove off.
> 
> I called Yellow Cab and spoke to a superviser who said he would talk to the
> driver, and he also said he would send another taxi immediately.
> 
> He then insisted on putting out a message saying that I was traveling with a
> service animal. I explained that I didn't want anything in my travel request
> stating that I have a service dog. The supervisor said it would help the
> company document what happened if another driver refused to pick me up.
> 
> Another cab showed up a few minutes later, and there was no problem.
> 
> while I appreciate the public's concern, I might have been able to ride with
> the first cab driver, if the customer wouldn't have interfered. But I also
> don't think it's right for the cab company to insist on putting out a note
> to other drivers that I have a service dog. I think that should be left to
> our disgression. 
> 
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