[nagdu] Concerns arise over Uber's accessibility for persons with disabilities

[Ginger Kutsch]

Concerns arise over Uber's accessibility for persons with disabilities 

By Caitlin Johnston

Tuesday, January 13, 2015 

Source URL:
http://www.tampabay.com/news/transportation/concerns-arise-over-ubers-access
ibility-for-persons-with-disabilities/2213526 

 

TAMPA - Ride-share company Uber has operated around Tampa Bay since April,
but advocates are concerned that the company has no wheelchair-accessible
vehicles here and that its representatives seem misinformed on federal
regulations.

 

A representative from Uber discussed concerns with advocates and community
members during a forum Tuesday organized by the Hillsborough County and
Tampa Mayor's alliances for people with disabilities.

 

Ana Mahony, Uber's general manager for Tampa, said the ride-share company is
piloting programs in several cities in hopes of finding the best method of
providing services for people with disabilities. 

 

Tampa, however, is not one of those cities. Currently, there is no way for
riders in Tampa to request a wheelchair-accessible vehicle, Mahony said.

 

"I would love to be able to do something like that here,'' she said. "Those
kinds of situations require partnerships. . Right now we don't have the
luxury of being able to test something like that."

 

Uber, which connects passengers with nearby drivers via a smartphone app,
has several variations on its typical rideshare model that could improve
service here for people with disabilities, Mahony said.

 

UberWAV, which is only available in New York City's outer boroughs, allows
users to request a wheelchair-accessible vehicle. UberASSIST aims to assist
seniors, but does not have wheelchair-accessible ramps. UberACCESS,
according to its website, does include vehicles with a ramp.

 

But wheelchairs are only a part of the ongoing discussion about
accessibility. Marion Gwizdala, president of the National Association of
Guide Dog Users, said he was worried when Mahony said that drivers are not
required to provide rides for service dogs if the drivers have allergies.

 

A second Uber representative, spokeswoman Kaitlin Durkosh, confirmed
Mahony's statements to a reporter later in an email.

 

"Driver partners are instructed in (Americans with Disabilities Act)
regulations and while they are permitted under the law not to take a service
animal for issues like allergies, safety or religious beliefs, drivers with
those concerns are directed to wait with the rider until another Uber
arrives," Durkosh wrote.

 

According to ADA regulations, allergies and fear of dogs are not valid
reasons for denying access or refusing service to people using service
animals. 

 

"I'm concerned that they don't want to be regulated, and they're not fully
aware of what their responsibilities are under ADA," Gwizdala said.

 

Ben Ritter, co-chair of the Tampa Mayor's Alliance for Persons with
Disabilities, said he was glad there was such a strong turnout and thought
the conversation was productive. However, he doubts whether Uber or other
ride-share companies will enact any changes.

 

"They're not going to do anything until they're forced to," Ritter said.
"They're not going to make these changes because they don't have the
incentive."