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

Fri Jan 16 22:33:00 UTC 2015

Coming out of lurkdom for a moment,

I've just recently begun using Uber, and thus far my experiences have 
been extremely positive. Lyft though, not so much. I was told by Uber 
drivers that they are subject to some screening, but I don't know how 
extensive it is. Muber has worked out much better for me than Lyft, 
whose drivers have denied me access on a number of occasions.

As to notification, normally I am against notifying businesses about my 
dog in advance, but I make an exception with taxis, Uber, etc. The only 
reason for my letting drivers know in advance is so that they can easily 
locate me and verbally identify themselves.
On 1/14/2015 3:34 PM, Cindy Ray via nagdu wrote:
> I thought they did screen. My son-in-law was told he couldn't drive for them
> because of his particular car. Anyway, I see what they are doing is calling
> themselves a Ride Share, which implies that they don't have fixed rates. My
> ex- used to belong to a ride share group that went to Ames. He had to pay
> because he couldn't participate in the driving.
> Uber is a technology company byt, though I've had good service from them
> sofar, I'm not sure they should be exempt from whatever taxes and
> requirements the taxicab companies have.
>
> Cindy
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Marion Gwizdala
> via nagdu
> Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2015 2:51 PM
> To: 'Abigail Bolling'; 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of
> Guide Dog Users'
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Concerns arise over Uber's accessibility for persons
> with disabilities
>
> Abigail,
>
> 	I am generally opposed to any sort of advance notification of the
> presence of a service dog. Places of public accommodation are required to
> modify their policies, practices, and procedures to allow an individual with
> a disability access to all the good and services enjoyed by other customers
> unless doing so poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others,
> imposes an undue burden, or if the animal is out of control and the handler
> does not take immediate, effective action to correct the behavior. The
> presence of a dog does not pose a direct threat to a person with allergies
> to dog dander except in .05% of the public. This means that about 150,000
> people in the U.S. have an allergy to dog dander that would pose a
> significant risk to their health or safety.
>
> 	I often hear others say they give advanced notification out of
> consideration. I am not sure what this means. Should my drummer give
> advanced notification to a restaurant, hotel, or taxicab that he is black?
> Since both race and disability, including the presence of a service dog, are
> irrelevant as to access, what is meant by consideration. What about their
> consideration of you and your legal rights? Advanced notification only
> serves to promulgate discrimination, not resolve it, as the entity wonders
> why you told, them, what they need to do for you, and often provides an
> unequal benefit as the result. JMHO!
>
> 	Also, does everyone know that Uber does not screen its drivers, does
> not require a mechanical inspection of their vehicles, and their drivers do
> not have any additional insurance coverage other than what is required for a
> private vehicle? Commercial vehicles require specific insurance because
> their exposure to risk is so much higher.
>
> Marion Gwizdala
>
>
>
> 	Uber contends that it is not a public accommodation; rather, they
> say they are a technology company. As the Chair of the Hillsborough County
> Public Transportation Cimmission stated yesterday, no matter how a vehicle
> is dispatched, if what happens is someone pays for a ride in a vehicle, that
> vehicle is a taxicab. Taxicabs are places of public accommodation.
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Abigail Bolling
> via nagdu
> Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2015 11:02 AM
> To: Ginger Kutsch; NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog
> Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Concerns arise over Uber's accessibility for persons
> with disabilities
>
> Personally, for UBER, I use the IPhone app...
> But, when I call for a regular taxi, I make sure I tell them I have a
> service dog... Out of respect for the Driver.
> What do you guys think about having the UBER app add an option where you can
> let them know if you have a dog or a wheelchair... Just because most of the
> uber or lift drivers are using their own personal vehicles.
> Especially for a wheelchair. because then maybe at the base dispatch they
> could have a few wheelchair vehicles available.
> Thoughts?
>
> Abigail Bolling
> "Keep a smile on your face and a song in your heart, and just let the music
> play." (Julie Anderson Diamond)
>
>> On Jan 14, 2015, at 8:22 AM, Ginger Kutsch via nagdu
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> wrote:
>> 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."
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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