[nagdu] guide dogs and cab drivers

Tue May 13 04:13:19 UTC 2014

Interesting. I did not know that about them getting messages about service
dogs. As for the app, feel free to email me off list if you would like help
with it as I too find that it can be a bit inaccessible at times.

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Elizabeth
Campbell via nagdu
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2014 8:52 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] guide dogs and cab drivers

Hi Nicole,

I sometimes use Taxi Magic as well, but find it's a little tricky to
navigate the app.
As for the situation with our dogs, it is just going to take education and
vigilance on our part to make sure the cab drivers follow the laws regarding
service animals.
I was told once that drivers see messages on their computer screens several
times a day reminding them that it is illegal to deny access to a passenger
with a service dog.

Best

Liz

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Nicole Torcolini
via nagdu
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2014 8:47 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] guide dogs and cab drivers

I also have three cab drivers whom I call before calling the cab company. I
give them advanced notice if I know that I will need a cab, but that is not
always possible, and, even if it is, they are not always available. All of
them have a contract with schools to help drive children to and from school,
so there is a certain time period during which they are not available. I
sometimes have the "no dog" problem. It has gotten worse over the last few
years. A few years ago, when you called Yellow Checkered Cab, they would
send you text updates. I used to tell them that I had a service dog because
I would rather wait a little longer and get someone who would take the dog
than get someone who would not take the dog and have to start all over.
However, all that changed. They stopped sending text updates when I would
call. I asked about it a couple of times, but nothing ever came of it. I did
not know what was going on. Then I came across the Taxi Magic all, and it
became clear what was happening. I think that, in order to encourage people
to use the app, they only send text updates if you use app. There is no way
to specify with the app that you have a service dog. I have had people just
leave or say that the cab was for someone else. One person said that I
should have told dispatch that I had a dog. I tried to explain that the app
does not have a way to indicate that I have a service dog, but he did not
understand. I use the app because it tells how far away the driver is and
how many times they play hot potato with you (assign a different taxi).
There are a few drivers at the company who know we somewhat well, and one of
them knows one of the drivers for whom I have the direct number. The cab
company used to have documented that I have a service dog, but I told them
to take that off the record since it seemed to be making things worse
instead of better. Also, the Taxi Magic app has a place to rate your ride
with a bunch of different good/bad choices, but there is no choice for
"Refused to take me because of service dog". Finally, Taxi Magic does not
seem to care if the cab picked up the wrong person. When they think that you
should be in the cab, you get a text, and it says to reschedule if you are
not in the cab. I have had the cab pick up the wrong person several times. I
don't know if that is really what happened, or if they saw Lexia and picked
up someone else on purpose or just used that as an excuse. Something really
needs to be done to crack down on this, everywhere. Luckily, I don't have to
use the company that much, but I dread it every time that I do.

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Elizabeth
Campbell via nagdu
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2014 8:04 AM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] guide dogs and cab drivers

Hi Nicole,

I am in Fort Worth, Texas.
If I need a cab I first call several drivers who I know, but if they are not
available, I take the luck of the draw, so to speak and call the cab
company, as was the case yesterday.

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Nicole Torcolini
via nagdu
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2014 9:55 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] guide dogs and cab drivers

Where do you live?

Sent from my iPhone

On May 12, 2014, at 7:28 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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