[nagdu] guide dogs and cab drivers

Wed May 14 12:38:53 UTC 2014

It's been my experience that education only goes so far.  Or, stated 
otherwise, a fine or warning word from the licensing agency can be very 
educational.
We were having similar problems with our taxi company, after years of good 
service.  Someone suggested we contact the town agency that licenses taxi 
companies, which we did.  I think they told the company to knock it off, 
because we got a call from the taxi supervisor the next day, appologizing 
for any inconvenience and saying it wouldn't happen again, and it has been a 
lot better.
Tracy

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Elizabeth Campbell via nagdu" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2014 11:51 PM
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.
>
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> nagdu:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/ntorcolini%40wavecable.co
> m
>
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> nagdu:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/batescampbell%40gmail.com
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> nagdu:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/ntorcolini%40wavecable.co
> m
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> nagdu:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/batescampbell%40gmail.com
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> nagdu:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/carcione%40access.net
> 