[nagdu] Taxi access
Michael Hingson
mike at michaelhingson.com
Sat Aug 29 17:20:41 UTC 2015
Dan,
Good message. This is why NAGDU has applied for a grant to produce
educational materials concerning access. Also, the intent is to work closer
with organizations to educate. Come to the NAGDU board meeting tomorrow to
learn more and to keep up with what is happening. All are welcome. The
meeting begins PROMPTLY at 5PM Pacific time, 6PM Mountain, 7PM Central time
and 8PM Eastern time. Ah, 3PM Hawaiian time and Midnight Zulu time for you
hams.
Conference Participant Instructions
1. At the specified time, call (641) 715-3300
2. When prompted, enter your participant code: 560908#
3. Since this is a Board meeting, only members of the Board of
Directors of the National Association of Guide Dog Users may make and vote
on motions. Guests will have opportunities to offer input during the
meeting.
4. All participants will be required to identify themselves. Anonymous
callers may not enter the board room.
5. This conference will be recorded. Participation in the conference
implies an agreement to and authorization for such recording in compliance
with state and federal laws.
During the conference call, participants may use the following commands:
*3 exits the conference and puts you in the lobby.
*6 mutes the participant. Pressing the command again unmutes the
participant.
Best Regards,
Michael Hingson
-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Dan Weiner via
nagdu
Sent: Saturday, August 29, 2015 4:23 AM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Dan Weiner <dcwein at dcwein.cnc.net>
Subject: [nagdu] Taxi access
All right, guys.
I know we all have different opinions about notifying or not notifying and I
can respect all of your opinions.
But here's the larger picture:
Access to cabs, or whatever transportation, taxis uber and so ion is a real
problem for guide dog users in thhis country.
After eighty years of guide dog training, state and federal laws and so on,
it is still a problem.
Almost all guide dog users I know have had issues, some more than others but
I'ts the luck of the draw.
So what are we as blind guide dog users, and as members of the blind
movement, going to do about it?
What can we do, campaigns, legislation, whatever, can we do to make sure
guide dog access problems with cabs becomes a thing of the past/ Any ideas?
I'm willing to help out definitely.
Legislation exists obviously but I can tell you from personal experience
that trying to get it enforced is a nightmare it takes months or years to
engage in any type of complaint and the effect ends up being minimal. If
that weren't the case then why is it still happening. In Maryland it was
easily one out of every four cab rides I had an access issue, the only way
I avoided it was by getting numbers of drivers I liked and using them. I
tried complaining to the companie(that's might as well have been a joke)
going to the cab regulating bureau, and even putting incomplaints with
whatever the Hell the name of the commission wa that is supposed to regulate
ADA issues and so on.
So, let's all put our thinking caps on and over the course of the next few
weeks or months start thinking of some strategy to improve this situation.
Basically let's be blunt, I don't care if it's allergies, fear of dogs,
religion, or just a distaste for dogs and dog hair...the access issues are
happening because they, in this case the driver, can get away with it. No
fines (unless your lucky enough to win some civil suit) no punishment no
censure. I se two issues, the companies being at fault and the driver being
at fault....and a general lack of concern about consequences because there
are none.
Cordially,
Dan the man
-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Michael Hingson
via nagdu
Sent: Friday, August 28, 2015 10:17 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Cc: Michael Hingson
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Trying to understand: denial of access bad allergies
Debby,
I hear your thoughts, but you can't have it both ways. If on the one hand
you think it is rude for a driver on the street to just refuse you or drive
away when you hail a cab why do you think it will be different when you
identify to a dispatcher that you have a guide dog? First, what makes you
believe the dispatcher himself or herself may not have prejudices and put
you at the bottom of the list no matter when you call or somehow convey to
their cabbies that you are not as valued?
Then there are the drivers themselves. Suppose someone simply does not want
a dog in their car, and is not one of the %.5 who have allergies that rise
to the level of a disability? Are they going to act differently if you hail
them or if they respond to a call? I think not.
It is not being uncaring or discourteous to not identify that we have guide
dogs. Remember, when someone denys us because of our dogs then they are in
fact denying us. The dogs do not have rights.
If these people are going to drive the public then they need to take ALL the
responsibilities that go along with being a servant to the public. It is
that simple.
Now, if a driver is called to fetch me, drives up, and emphatically says
that they have an serious allergy and can't take but will call another
driver and stay with me until their replacement arrives I won't argue with
that. I may or may not be able to prove whether they have an allergy or not,
but at least they did the right thing.
The Burdon should NOT be on me, but the driver. No, whether it be Uber, Lift
or a taxi the reality that the preponderance of refusals are inappropriate
and thus we need to take a strong stand including not giving advanced
information which drivers and possibly dispatchers will use to make up the
rules as they go along. Airlines have done that for years and so have ground
transportation people.
Best Regards,
Michael Hingson
-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Debby Phillips
via nagdu
Sent: Friday, August 28, 2015 6:51 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>; nagdu at nfbnet.org
Cc: Debby Phillips <semisweetdebby at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Trying to understand: denial of access bad allergies
Hi Louise, but then people would have to tell the dispatch person that they
have a service dog, which I personally don't have a problem with. You know
folks, if you are calling a cab to go somewhere, it's true the law is on our
side, they're supposed to take us. And many of you think it's a terrible
thing to disclose that you have a dog. But wouldn't it be fairer to the cab
company to let them know so that they can send someone who does not have
allergies, or the driver is so terrified of our dog that he or she can
hardly drive for fear of the dog getting too close?
Sometimes we need to use some common sense. It's true I have the right not
to disclose. But if the cab arrives and the driver is truly allergic to
dogs, I have wasted his or her time, and am wasting mine as the cab company
has to send someone else. Or Uber, or Lyft.
I once had a doctor who had severe allergies to dogs. The first time I saw
her, I had my dog with me. She opened the door, saw him, and it was the one
and only time she acted in an unprofessional manner. She rushed out
shouting, "Why is there a dog in my room?" She apologized and said that she
had to ask me not to bring the dog into her exam room again. Having gone
through dog allergies myself, I totally understood where she was coming
from, and either left my dog home, or left him in the waiting room with my
husband or a friend for the remainder of the time she was my primary care
physician. We have rights, but we also have a responsibility, in my
opinion, to care about other people. Many of you don't know what it's like
to have your throat be scratchy all the time, nose running, not able to
breathe well because of an allergy to dog. And some allergy relief meds
make people sleepy. So maybe when calling a cab, telling them isn't such a
bad idea. Just my opinion.
It's a different matter when you're hailing a taxi on the city street. I do
think it's rude and inconsiderate for a taxi to just pull away. I
personally think if they can't or won't pick someone up, they should at
least have the courtesy to pull up and
tell the person that they're calling another cab. Debby and
Nova
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