[NAGDU] guide dogs and cabs, an interesting chat

[Cindy Ray]

Well, some of these cabs are just independent. I think though that the
company or whoever gives them permission to drive publicly does not let them
know that they can't refuse people with service dogs. I am pretty sure Uber
and Lyft didn't do so regularly or at least have any consequences until this
agreement came about. I wonder what we could do to make cab companies
understand that this is the law. It is sure something for us to think about.

Cindy Lou Ray
cindyray at gmail.com


-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Dan Weiner via
NAGDU
Sent: Friday, May 12, 2017 6:07 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] guide dogs and cabs, an interesting chat

Hello, beautiful people.

Dan here.

now, whenever I see the subject i put, guide dogs and cabs, my hackles go up
because I know what's coming. This one was positive, but the driver and I
had an interesting conversation I wanted to relate.

I took Parker to the vet for some recurrent ear infection problems.  I
called a cab.  Though I didn't mention a dog I imagine it wouldn't have been
too much of a surprise as it's a vet's office with the name ".... 
animal hospital".

The cab driver came in, a pretty cheerful fellow from Morocco and since I
had taken an Arabic class way back when we started talking in Arabic,
English and French.

Nothing said about my dog.

But sometimes I like to get in to the subject of guide dogs during the ride
and asked if he understood why I had the dog and said I was glad he had no
issue.

Now a more or less verbatim transcript.


The Drivers name will be Adam my name is Dan--lol


Adam: "well when I heard it was a vet, I thought I wouldn't take it, but you
know someone needs a ride so I figure why not."

Dan: I understand that, but you know I'm blind and this is a guide dog, you
understand when it's ervice dogs you're required to take them it's the law.

."

Adam:  what do you mean, law?"

Dan:


"The law says if it's a blind person with a guide dog or a person with a
disability with a service yodog you're required to take them."

Adam: "I don't mind taking your dog but most people with dogs the dog smells
and the person smells"?

Dan: "you're talking about blind people with dogs or service animals"

Adam: "No, what do you mean I'm talking about dogs."

Adam, (continuing)  "and then I'd have to clean up and what about people
with allergies".


Adam" if all dogs were like yours then why not...but why cna't I refuse 
if I don't want someone"?

Dan: "I think if it's a pet dog you have a choice (not sure of that 
though) but a guide dog or service dog it's the law"





Anyway, suffice it to say after some more good-natured talk I realized 
this guy didn't seem aware of laws,  so here's the question...are 
companies just not explaining this   requirement in a way that is 
comprehensible and letting the drivers know that this is a serious 
thing, or  are people, drivers, deliberately or willfully ignoring it or 
just don't care...



Any thoughts, guys.  If there is anything I can do to help with the cab 
situation let me know, I don't use Uber or lift as I don't have an 
Iphone this was just a regular cab.


Cordially,

Dan the man and Parker the non-smelly dog



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