[NAGDU] My recent Uber trip

[carcione at access.net]

I had a recent Uber trip that wasn't the usual refusal.  

I had to pick up my husband after cataract surgery.  We are both blind for
practical purposes.  I called an Uber and messaged the driver that we are
blind, so please call out to us.  I also said that I have a service dog
guide dog, which is the way I've been told to say it. The driver messaged
back "OK".

When the driver arrived, Igloo led me to the door and I got ready to get in
after making sure my husband was OK and also ready to get in.  The driver
went around the back and opened it up and said "dog gets in here".  I was
very surprised.  I thought he was going to put Igloo in the trunk, like in
the lawsuit the NFB was part of several years ago.  Now I think maybe it was
a hatchback or some space behind the seats, but at the time I was just very
startled. 

I told the driver No, the dog stays with me.  He insisted the dog get in the
back.  I suppose I could have climbed in the back with the dog, and ridden
without a seatbelt, but that seems disrespectful and wrong for me.  And I
didn't want Igloo loose and not under my direct control, either.  We told
the driver refusing to take me because of the dog was against the law, but
he said he didn't care and drove off.

It was particularly upsetting because my husband had just had surgery and we
wanted everything to go smoothly, and it didn't.  When the driver finally
cancelled, I got an Uber Pet, just so we could get home and my husband could
rest and do the things the doctor said to do.

I reported the whole thing to Uber, who "investigated", though of course I
have no idea what they actually did.

 

So, am I right in calling it a denial?

Tracy