<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto">I saw the announcement for this rally in my inbox yesterday evening. I find it, especially at propos as I had two Access issues in a row yesterday. The first guy, I had to throw my bag and then my phone threw his window so that he couldn’t drive away, then I reached in through the window to unlock the door, and jumped into the car. I used the safety recording feature to record my conversation with him the whole ride to my destination. Either the gentleman truly was not aware of the nuance and the regulations, or, he was one of the best actors and liars that I’ve ever met. Either way, he transported me, seemed to learn a lot, I gave him a big tip, and I did send the recording to Uber. On the way home, my second driver , also didn’t want to take me, claiming allergies. Jim was holding the car door, so I was able to jump in before he could pull away. And he took me, grudgingly, but he kept making statements to the effect that he was doing me a favor, being nice to transport me. I am very seriously considering traveling to this rally. So if anyone is thinking that this issue is mostly resolved, a thing of the past, I assure you it is not. And I am so glad to see that the NFB is stepping up to take this sort of action. <div><br id="lineBreakAtBeginningOfSignature"><div dir="ltr">Sent from my iPhone</div><div dir="ltr"><br>Begin forwarded message:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><b>From:</b> National Federation of the Blind <webmaster@nfb.org><br><b>Date:</b> August 20, 2024 at 5:03:06 PM EDT<br><b>To:</b> Aubrey Bird <heather.l.bird@gmail.com><br><b>Subject:</b> <b>Rideshare Rally at Uber and Lyft—Stop the Discrimination</b><br><b>Reply-To:</b> Bounces+r.23659.10218622.3716be3422cd3f65@mailings.nfb.org<br><br></div></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><!--[if gte mso 9]>
<xml>
  <o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
    <o:AllowPNG/>
    <o:PixelsPerInch>96</o:PixelsPerInch>
  </o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml>
<![endif]-->
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%">
        <tbody>
                <tr>
                        <td style="height:20px"> </td>
                </tr>
                <tr>
                        <td style="vertical-align:top">
                        <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:600px">
                                <tbody>
                                        <tr>
                                                <td style="background-color:#ffffff; border-bottom:medium none; border-left:medium none; border-right:medium none; border-top:medium none">
                                                <table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%">
                                                        <tbody>
                                                                <tr>
                                                                        <td style="background-color:#0075c9; border-bottom:medium none; border-left:medium none; border-right:medium none; border-top:medium none; height:10px; text-align:center; vertical-align:top; width:100%">
                                                                        <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
                                                                                <tbody>
                                                                                        <tr>
                                                                                                <td>
                                                                                                <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
                                                                                                        <tbody>
                                                                                                                <tr>
                                                                                                                        <td style="background-color:transparent; border-bottom:medium none; border-left:medium none; border-right:medium none; border-top:medium none"><img alt="" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/top-blue-bar.jpg" style="background-color:#0075c9; border-color:currentcolor; border-style:solid; border-width:0px; display:block; height:28px; margin:0px; width:600px" data-unique-identifier=""></td>
                                                                                                                </tr>
                                                                                                        </tbody>
                                                                                                </table>
                                                                                                </td>
                                                                                        </tr>
                                                                                </tbody>
                                                                        </table>
                                                                        </td>
                                                                </tr>
                                                        </tbody>
                                                </table>
                                                </td>
                                        </tr>
                                        <tr>
                                                <td style="background-color:#ffffff; border-bottom:medium none; border-left:medium none; border-right:medium none; border-top:medium none">
                                                <table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%">
                                                        <tbody>
                                                                <tr>
                                                                        <td style="background-color:#ffffff; border-bottom:medium none; border-left:medium none; border-right:medium none; border-top:medium none; height:10px; text-align:center; vertical-align:top; width:100%">
                                                                        <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
                                                                                <tbody>
                                                                                        <tr>
                                                                                                <td>
                                                                                                <table border="0" cellpadding="20" cellspacing="0">
                                                                                                        <tbody>
                                                                                                                <tr>
                                                                                                                        <td style="background-color:transparent; border-bottom:medium none; border-left:medium none; border-right:medium none; border-top:medium none"><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=35354&qid=10218622" rel="nofollow"><img alt="National Federation of the Blind logo and tagline live the life you want. A blind woman with a guide dog reaches out to open a car door." src="https://nfb.org/sites/nfb.org/files/08-2024/transportation-w-blend-header-email.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: currentcolor; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; display: block; margin: 0px; height: 200px; width: 600px;" data-unique-identifier=""></a></td>
                                                                                                                </tr>
                                                                                                        </tbody>
                                                                                                </table>
                                                                                                </td>
                                                                                        </tr>
                                                                                </tbody>
                                                                        </table>
                                                                        </td>
                                                                </tr>
                                                        </tbody>
                                                </table>
                                                </td>
                                        </tr>
                                        <tr>
                                                <td style="background-color:#ffffff; border-bottom:medium none; border-left:medium none; border-right:medium none; border-top:medium none">
                                                <table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="height:145px; width:600px">
                                                        <tbody>
                                                                <tr>
                                                                        <td style="background-color:#ffffff; border-color:initial; border-style:none; border-width:medium; height:20px; text-align:left; vertical-align:top; width:100%">
                                                                        <h1><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 24pt;">Rideshare Rally in San Francisco</span></h1>

                                                                        <p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Join our demonstration to protest rideshare discrimination against blind people using guide dogs and white canes. </span></p>

                                                                        <p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">October 15, 2024<br>
                                                                        San Francisco, California<br>
                                                                        Uber and Lyft Headquarters*<br>
                                                                        10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Pacific Time</span></p>

                                                                        <p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">As reported in the 2024 Presidential Report, “both of the leading [rideshare] companies, Lyft and Uber, are failing to meet their obligations to ensure that blind individuals are not discriminated against. While we continue to hold regular meetings with both companies in good faith to improve their policies and practices, there is rarely a day that goes by when we do not learn of another ride denied to a blind person…We will take all of the courageous steps necessary to stop this second-class treatment.”</span></p>

                                                                        <h2><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 20pt;">Rideshare Requirements</span></h2>

                                                                        <p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Uber and Lyft are not meeting the following requirements:</span></p>

                                                                        <ul>
                                                                                <li><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Drivers must not discriminate; they must pick up blind passengers.</span></li>
                                                                                <li><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Rideshare companies need a Zero Tolerance Policy for violators.</span></li>
                                                                                <li><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Rideshare companies must reduce the burden imposed on blind passengers to report denials when they happen.</span></li>
                                                                                <li><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Rideshare companies must deliver better driver education on the policy and laws regarding blind passengers, especially guide dog users.</span></li>
                                                                        </ul>

                                                                        <p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">The discrimination must end. Don’t deny; let us ride. </span></p>

                                                                        <h2><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 20pt;">Submit Interest Form to Attend</span></h2>

                                                                        <p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Please let us know if you are interested in attending this demonstration on October 15 by submitting the Rideshare Rally Interest Form. We will be sharing more information regarding the logistics, rally route, recommended hotel accommodations, and Rideshare Rally details in the coming weeks. By completing the form, you are not obligated to attend. </span></p>

                                                                        <p><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=35363&qid=10218622" rel="nofollow"><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Rideshare Rally Interest Form</span></a></p>

                                                                        <p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">*Please note: the exact location will be shared in the coming weeks with recommended lodging for those traveling to San Francisco. </span></p>
                                                                        </td>
                                                                </tr>
                                                        </tbody>
                                                </table>
                                                </td>
                                        </tr>
                                        <tr>
                                                <td style="height:8px"> </td>
                                        </tr>
                                </tbody>
                        </table>
                        </td>
                </tr>
        </tbody>
</table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" align="center" style="background-color:#002f6d; padding:0; border:0; margin:0 auto; width:600px"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 60px;"> <td style="width:135px;"> </td> <td style="width:55px; background-color:#002f6d; padding:0; border:0; margin:0 auto;"> <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=35355&qid=10218622" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Facebook Logo" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/iof-facebook-ms.png" data-unique-identifier=""> </a> </td> <td style="width:55px; background-color:#002f6d; padding:0; border:0; margin:0 auto;"> <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=35356&qid=10218622" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Twitter Logo" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/iof-twitter-ms.png" data-unique-identifier="">
</a> </td> <td style="width:55px; background-color:#002f6d; padding:0; border:0; margin:0 auto;"> <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=35357&qid=10218622" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Instagram Logo" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/iof-instagram-ms.png" data-unique-identifier=""></a> </td> <td style="width:55px; background-color:#002f6d; padding:0; border:0; margin:0 auto;"> <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=35358&qid=10218622" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="YouTube Logo" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/iof-youtube-ms.png" data-unique-identifier=""></a> </td> <td style="width:55px; background-color:#002f6d; padding:0; border:0; margin:0 auto;"> <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=35359&qid=10218622" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Email Icon Image" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/iof-email-ms.png" data-unique-identifier=""></a> </td> <td style="width:55px; background-color:#002f6d; padding:0; border:0; margin:0 auto;"> <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=35360&qid=10218622" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Donate to the NFB Icon." src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/iof-donte-ms.png" style="border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; border-color: currentcolor; display: block; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; width: 50px; height: 35px;" data-unique-identifier=""> </a> </td> <td style="width:135px"> </td> </tr> <tr style="color: white; height: 25px;"> <td colspan="8" align="center" style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold">
National Federation of the Blind | 200 E Wells Street | Baltimore, MD 21230 | 410-659-9314 </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 25px;"> <td colspan="8" align="center" style="color: white; font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold"> <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/unsubscribe?reset=1&jid=23659&qid=10218622&h=3716be3422cd3f65" title="Unsubscribe" style="color: white; font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold">Unsubscribe from this mailing list</a> | <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/optout?reset=1&jid=23659&qid=10218622&h=3716be3422cd3f65" title="Opt Out" style="color: white; font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;
font-weight: bold">Opt out of all mailing lists</a> |  <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=35361&qid=10218622" rel="nofollow" title="Sign up for email newsletter" style="color: white; font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold">Sign up for our newsletter</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="8" align="center" style="display: none; color: white; font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold"> <div class="location vcard"><span class="adr"><span class="street-address">200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place</span><br><span class="locality">Baltimore</span>, <span class="region">MD</span> <span class="postal-code">21230</span><br><span class="country-name">United States</span></span></div>.. </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAJEAAP///wAAAAAAAAAAACH5BAkAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAgEAAEEBAA7" width="1" height="1" alt="Web Bug from https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/open?qid=10218622" /><img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAJEAAP///wAAAAAAAAAAACH5BAkAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAgEAAEEBAA7" width="1" height="1" alt="Web Bug from https://u32452178.ct.sendgrid.net/wf/open?upn=u001.ETOPXbro2Za9WFquwQdrK2YPFwq0d25vc-2FFVlt3kw2qVC73XsqJHExqq6eNIWhu7n6G5PDzrQyu-2FLrDXA2u2heFj0u0WB3VG0UawmY6yNsUpCuSb8RZA0efiF4zHFwKw9MqTHSz6cQ26w0N5Gl5-2BuVmeQBwkCb3AsFFjJYilgPHZDEMwjuNEgP1QAfP9GNoW8n1-2BY5If6EotKbMo3Qa-2Fs5pc2jEhEX4zEYf4tx0xsUE-3D" /></div></blockquote></div></body></html>