[NAGDU] Rideshare Issues

[Al Elia]

Not a website – they are compiled from the ADA regulations at 28 
C.F.R. Parts 35 and 36, and 49 C.F.R. Part 37. I suppose also the NFB v. 
Uber case awhile back that refused to dismiss the case against Uber when 
Uber tried to argue that its service was not covered under the ADA.

On 24 Jul 2023, at 9:52, Jenine Stanley wrote:

Thanks for the actual facts pertaining to the ADA and transporting 
service animals. Do you have a citation for these, i.e., a web site 
where you got them? Not at all doubting your facts here, just wanting to 
cite them to others outside this list. 😄

I also want to thank others here for noting that people may have 
differing reasons for notifying entities about their service animals 
prior to arrival. When I worked at America’s Vetdogs, many of our 
graduates had PTSD and it was often easier for them to notify first 
rather than have a denial at the location or with the service on the day 
of travel. These same people also found it easier to show their ID 
cards. I know that’s a topic that will get some people up in arms, and 
honestly, prior to working with people with PTSD and other conditions 
than blindness, I’d have been someone who forcefully spoke against 
showing ID. Doing so though with the phrase, “… it’s not required 
by law but …” was something we regularly advised and that did work 
for people.

I can’t imagine the Halting anxiety that conflicts over your service 
animal can bring. I’ve had my share over the years and there’s no 
doubt that traveling with my dog does add stress when it comes to 
certain entities like ride share. So just offering support out there to 
anyone for whom identifying prior to travel helps with that anxiety.

I’m also supporting those who are honestly afraid to say they do so on 
lists like this for fear of having to justify themselves. Yes, it can 
make access difficult for the rest of us at times when someone calls 
ahead or chooses to show ID. My guess though is that if it’s not over 
these issues, the denial will be about something else. People doing the 
denying often hide behind the showing of ID or calling ahead. Let’s 
unmask that and get to the real issues. What are those real issues?

Maybe someone had a bad experience with a service animal team. Maybe 
they’ve just imagined they’d have a bad experience based on urban 
legend. Maybe they are just very uncomfortable around dogs and people 
with disabilities. Whatever these factors are, they are not my problems 
when it comes to accessing any entity and I’m not here to make that 
person comfortable. I’m lucky that from where I am in my own 
disability experience, I can stand with the laws and not feel as if I 
have to appease people. That’s not where everyone is though and I do 
need to accept that.

OK, confusing ramble over. Thanks for the interesting topic.

Jenine

On Jul 24, 2023, at 9:14 AM, Al Elia via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:

Hello all. I wanted to clear up a few misconceptions about the law.

1. Paratransit, taxis, and rideshares must transport you with your 
service animal;
2. Paratransit companies, taxi companies, rideshare companies, and 
drivers may ask you if your dog is a service animal, if you require it 
because of a disability, and what task it is trained to perform;
3. They cannot refuse to transport you because you have a service 
animal;
4. They may ask you beforehand if you have a service animal, though you 
are not required to answer;
5. At the point of transport, it is unclear whether a driver or company 
would face liability for failing to transport you if you do not answer 
the inquiries described in point 2 above at least once to either the 
driver or the company;
6. A company may not provide you worse service (e.g., delaying pickup) 
because you told them you have a service animal during the booking 
process;
7. Companies may, if they want to, provide you a better service (e.g., 
larger vehicle) at the same time and at  no extra charge because you 
told them you have a service animal during the booking process;
8. If you know that the company provides a better service if you inform 
them about your service animal  during the booking process, and you do 
not so inform them, you cannot demand the better service at the point of 
pickup, though the regular service is required to transport you.


I hope these points have been helpful in clearing up any confusion.

Yours,

/Æ

Al Elia
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