[Nfbf-l] {Disarmed} Fw: Stand up for Uber in Florida!

[Peter Donahue]

Sherri via Nfbf-l wrote:
> Please join me in thanking Rep. Gaetz for putting forth legislation that
> Uber will stay in Florida. Uber is a wonderful ride-sharing service, much
> less expensive than cabs in my opinion. All drivers I have ridden with have
> welcomed me and my guide dog.
>
> Sherri
> --- Original Message -----
> From: Uber Florida
> To: flmom2006 at gmail.com
> Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2015 11:51 AM
> Subject: Stand up for Uber in Florida!
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>                                  Hi Sherri,
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>                                  Today we took a first step in making sure
> that Florida remains a home for ridesharing services like Uber.
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>                                  State Rep. Matt Gaetz has championed HB 817,
> a new piece of legislation that will promote public safety, encourage
> consumer choice, and keep Uber in the Sunshine State for good.
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>                                  Join us in thanking Rep. Gaetz for his
> leadership on this critical issue - click below to send him a tweet right
> now!
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>                                  We still have a long way to go before this
> bill becomes law, so we'll keep you updated.
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>                                  Uber on,
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>                                  Team Uber Florida
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>                                Follow Us On:
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Good morning Sherry and everyone,

     Similar legislation has been introduced in Texas. Ubar has been in 
a cat fight with the City of San Antonio ever since they began 
operation. They along with lift announced that they would cease 
operation in San Antonio due to the city's ride sharing ordinance being 
so strict. Thankfully the state is stepping in and will put in place 
regulations under which ride sharing companies will operate anywhere in 
the state taking the business of rule making for such companies away 
from local municipalities. They've been warmly welcomed in Austin, 
Dallas, and Houston. I'm not sure how many blind Texans use ride sharing 
services.

Mary and I would be curious to know how Ubar's fares stack up against 
standard cab fares. We're considering using these services as a means to 
combat some of the issues associated with using paratransit namely 
traveling to your destination via the scenic route. This happened to her 
last night. She was picked up from work and taken to University Hospital 
in West San Antonio before being dropped off here a situation we find 
totally ridiculous! We along with other paratransit patrons have filed 
numerous complaints about this situation over the years and have not 
seen any lasting resolution. Hopefully the use of ride sharing services 
will be a partial answer at least for when you need to take 
mission-critical trips.

     We have suggested an idea to the Via Metropolitan Transit Authority 
the idea of offering two levels of service, shared and express service. 
I know for a fact that Ubar does this but don't know about Lift. Via 
Trans patrons could choose between a shared or an express trip when 
scheduling a ride. Shared trips are your standard paratransit ride where 
you share the vehicle with other patrons. Our idea is that Via Trans 
could offer an "Express" service where for a higher fare patrons would 
be given direct service from their pickup point to their destination 
without having to share the ride with others who may be going to 
destinations completely out of the patron's direction of travel. We have 
no problems with shared service if everyone is going in the same 
direction of travel and you arrive on time. But when the routes become 
illogical it's enough to get our Irish up particularly when your plans 
for the day are messed up big-time!

      As we understand things one can only use Ubar and Lift via a 
smartphone app. This makes it difficult for those who do not yet own 
smartphones. It would be wonderful if the legislation governing the 
operation of ride sharing companies would include a requirement that 
these companies offer their services to both smartphone and non 
smartphone users. They could do this quite easily by allowing patrons to 
schedule trips via their websites or an electronic telephone reservation 
system as Greyhound does allowing them to keep expenses low and being 
able to serve more people. If there is a way to tap in to these service 
without needing a smartphone we need to be enlightened. Upgrading to 
smartphones is inthe cards for us later this year, but others feel more 
comfortable making reservations using the plain old telephone or via 
their PC. We're glad to hear that Texas not the only state considering 
legislation governing the operation of ride sharing services within 
their borders. All the best.

     Peter Donahue