[NAGDU] Rideshare denials

Sat May 25 00:33:22 UTC 2024

Well, as I understand it, the airlines have been required to allow us on 
their aircraft anyway, but the forms we need to deal with have been 
sometimes not too bad but often troublesome, and the personnel haven't 
done their jobs right.  I hope that the pilot program to be established 
because of the recently passed FAA reauthorization act will improve this 
somewhat, although I don't think a guide or other service dog user 
should be hassled unless the handler or the dog is behaving badly 
anyway.  This is an instance when I doubt things would have improved at 
least potentially without NFB or maybe NFB and its allies.

Al

On 5/24/24 17:45, Josh Kennedy via NAGDU wrote:
> And they also have to let people back on airplanes again with their guide
> dogs also. One of my friends who is going to get another guide dog in a
> year or so told me he will just take the train there and back. He said the
> train has more room on it than a plane does, anyway.
>
>
> On Fri, May 24, 2024 at 4:52 PM Leslie Hamric via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> wrote:
>
>> Yeah, that happened to me in October. I got denied twice and then the
>> third driver took me. I've also had drivers ask me why don't you use Uber
>> pet? So that's why I've been using Lyft lately because they don't have that
>> confusion with Uber pet. But still, something has to be done about this.
>> What is it going to take? We had a resolution last year at convention. I
>> think there will need to be more than only a resolution. Again I don't know
>> what that is but this is got to stop.
>> Leslie Hamric
>> Cello and Braille Music Teacher
>>
>>> On May 24, 2024, at 3:29 PM, Buddy Brannan via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> wrote:
>>> 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...
>>>>
>>>> *Sent with Right Inbox <
>> https://www.rightinbox.com/?utm_source=signature>*
>>>>
>>>> <
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>>>> I'm using Inbox When Ready
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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>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> *Sent with Right Inbox
>>>>>>>> <https://www.rightinbox.com/?utm_source=signature>*
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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>
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