[NAGDU] Rideshare denials

Fri May 24 18:48:21 UTC 2024

Just an FYI. The service dog denials are getting worse. I had the same
scenario happen just a week later.  I was also denied directly when I
wanted to go with my significant other to his appointment. They said I
couldn't go because I had a service dog. It is really bad when the transit
authority is perpetuating the problem and actually denying access because
of the service dog. Just saying...

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On Sun, May 5, 2024 at 8:50 AM Diane Graves via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
wrote:

> I hear you Debbie. It is an outrage to have to decide whether to take a
> dog to your time sensitive appointment or leave them home, because you
> don't know what the rideshare drivers are going to try to pull. It is even
> worse, to make this ongoing problem a consideration when deciding whether
> to train with a successor dog or not.
>
> Although the rideshare companies would claim otherwise, I simply don't
> believe that they have a strong zero tolerance policy for violations of the
> law when it comes to guide dogs/service animals. They would say that they
> are doing all they can, but I do not believe it.
>
> For example, I was recently enrolled at a university which had a very
> strict progressive policy against cheating and plagiarism. If you were
> caught once, you would receive an F on the assignment; twice, you failed
> the entire course; three times and you were expelled from the university. I
> don't think the rideshare companies have such a policy in place.
>
> When attempting to make travel arrangements with a family member or
> friend, I try to be considerate. If they don't want a dog in their vehicle,
> I can either honor that or choose not to ride with them. However, When a
> driver makes the decision to provide a public service and drive their
> personal vehicle for a rideshare company, they forfeit their right to make
> the call, and they should be required to comply with the law. We shouldn't
> be forced to deal with this.
>
>
> Robin (Diane) Graves
> rdgraves2007 at gmail.com
> 317-238-9262
>
> “TGIF: TODAY GOD IS FIRST.’—OS Hillman
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Debbie Malone via
> NAGDU
> Sent: Sunday, May 5, 2024 7:31 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users <
> nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Debbie Malone <dmalone510 at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Rideshare denials
>
> I do the same thing. I report to Uber, NFB, and our RTA (MBTA/the
> RIDE)since many of my rides are contracted through them. I am going out to
> the DOJ complaints in the next day or so. Any advice?
>
> I am so outraged that even those contracted rides are denied. The other
> day the paratransit service didn't have enough vans to take me on my
> scheduled trip. The tried to get me an Uber but were refused by every
> driver. They were telling the drivers that I had a service dog and allowed
> each driver to deny the ride. They had to delay a regular van driver's
> lunch to take me to my appointment. I am so outraged that I am looking into
> a protest at the state house and/or media coverage. I am too through.
>
> *Sent with Right Inbox <https://www.rightinbox.com/?utm_source=signature>*
>
>
> On Sat, May 4, 2024 at 4:14 PM Suzette May via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> wrote:
>
> > What Lyft told me is that if you message the driver that you have a
> > guide dog or the driver is close enough to see that you have a guide
> > dog and the ride is canceled at any point after that, it is considered
> > a service dog denial. So I report those.  I also screenshot my text
> > message when it says the driver has seen the message, along with the
> > driver information screen as soon as possible. I also report it on the
> > NFB form and the DOJ form every time.  If I can, I start videoing when
> the driver is one minute away.
> > I'm averaging about 1 in 3 guide dog denials.  I've had several that
> > were blatant, to my face denials. That was before I started videoing.
> >
> > *Suzette May*
> > *PS139.13 at gmail.com <PS139.13 at gmail.com>*
> > *512-564-0152*
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On Thu, May 2, 2024 at 12:34 PM Raul Gallegos - NAGDU via NAGDU <
> > nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> >
> > > Hello Vanessa. While there is no direct evidence that you have been
> > > denied, I personally would still report it as such, especially if
> > > you
> > have
> > > voluntarily sent the driver a text that identifies you as a blind
> > > person traveling with a guide dog.
> > > I hope this helps.
> > >
> > > --
> > > Raul Gallegos, President
> > > National Association of Guide Dog Users
> > > (346) 439-7444 • rgallegos at nagdu.org www.nfb.org • www.nagdu.org
> > > Subscribe to the NAGDU public calendar Facebook Group • Email list •
> > > Mastodon “You can live the life you want. Blindness is not what
> > > holds you back.”
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Vanessa Lowery
> > > via NAGDU
> > > Sent: Thursday, May 2, 2024 12:22 PM
> > > To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> > > < nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> > > Cc: Vanessa Lowery <val4dogs at gmail.com>
> > > Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Rideshare denials
> > >
> > > I have a question. To give an example, let's say that I have
> > > selected
> > Uber
> > > and have messaged the driver stating that I will be traveling with a
> > > service dog and will be placing a towel on the floor of the vehicle
> > before
> > > the dog enters. You continue to wait as the countdown for the
> > > drivers arrival continues. The driver gets two or three minutes out,
> > > and then the next thing you know, You've been switched to another
> > > ride. But before
> > that
> > > happens, you've gotten a text response back from the driver that
> > > just
> > says,
> > > "OK.". You assume that the OK means that the driver has no issues
> > > with
> > the
> > > presence of the service dog. But then, you are suddenly switched to
> > another
> > > driver. Is that considered a denial? And if not, at a minimum,
> > > should we
> > go
> > > to the tracking link that the NFB has and report that. And if so,
> > > what is it categorized to be? I have had that happen a few times
> lately.
> > > Vanessa and the zoo
> > > Sent from my iPhone
> > >
> > > > On May 2, 2024, at 7:21 AM, Debbie Malone via NAGDU
> > > > <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Hi all,
> > > > Is NFB still collecting data regarding Uber andLyft service animal
> > > denials?
> > > > If so where do we report the incidents? Thanks.
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > > *Debbie Malone*
> > > >
> > > > *National Federation of the Blind of Massachusetts*
> > > >
> > > > *Affiliate Second Vice President*
> > > >
> > > > *At-Large Chapter President*
> > > >
> > > > *National Federation of the Blind, National Writers Division Vice
> > > > President* *InclusionEducation.com
> > > > <https://inclusioneducation.com/>*
> > > > Amazon Author Page <https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B07RVCRR5R>
> > > >
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>
> --
> *Debbie Malone*
>
> *National Federation of the Blind of Massachusetts*
>
> *Affiliate Second Vice President*
>
> *At-Large Chapter President*
>
> *National Federation of the Blind, National Writers Division Vice
> President* *InclusionEducation.com <https://inclusioneducation.com/>*
> Amazon Author Page <https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B07RVCRR5R>
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-- 
*Debbie Malone*

*National Federation of the Blind of Massachusetts*

*Affiliate Second Vice President*

*At-Large Chapter President*

*National Federation of the Blind, National Writers Division Vice President*
*InclusionEducation.com <https://inclusioneducation.com/>*
Amazon Author Page <https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B07RVCRR5R>