[NAGDU] Rideshare denials

Fri May 24 20:26:20 UTC 2024

Yep. I just saw a post from a friend on Facebook, who was denied *three times* in a row. After the third time, he got a message from Uber suggesting that if he wanted to take his furry friend along, he should use Uber Pet. But…service dogs are allowed on regular rides. Uh … OK. Fourth time he got a ride. 

--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV, WRVB670 - Erie, PA
Email: buddy at brannan.name
Mobile: (814) 431-0962

> On May 24, 2024, at 2:48 PM, Debbie Malone via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> 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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> 
> 
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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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>>>>> m
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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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>> 
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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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