[nfbmi-talk] Uber Ridesharing now in Lansing, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Flint

Fri Jul 25 22:47:05 UTC 2014

The problem is systemic and prevelent William and Fred. It is called 
discrimination in violation of existing laws, including the Americans with 
disabilities act. Now I have no problem with these new services per se. and, 
indeed they may make a differance as many suggest in new opportunities for 
PWD including the blind. However, as they currently exist they are in an 
unregulated market and compete with those in the regulated market of which 
includes, nominally compliance withthe ADA.

In brief the basics of the ADA and other civil rights laws says, "Thou shalt 
not discriminate against people with disabilities solely because of said 
disabilities." In the guide dog context it is also quite simple. The law, 
not always followed or enforced, for sure says, "Thou shalt pick up and 
otherwise not discriminate against a guide dog handler."

We all know of cases where this is violated amonst cab companies. We do. But 
at least they are remedied or can be under state and federal laws like the 
ADA.

The issue with these other systems is that they are untried, unregulated and 
compete in an untested environment that is unequal and untested.

In other words it is the "wild west" so far as civil rights is considerrred.

And by the way there is no reason or no regulation that one of these sorts 
cannot pick up or deny service to a white cane traveler as well as a guide 
dog user.

Our fundamental civil rights and choice of appropriate to our needs mobility 
devices and other considerations are all at issue here.

The synergy between those of us who choose to use the long, or short white 
cane, for that matter or any devices or means including guide dogse
 are intertwined. In other words it isn't a matter of either/or  but rather, 
both.

And the rights of one being violated ultimately devolve in to violations of 
the rights of all.

So this is a very important issue for anyone and everyone amongst us who 
consider the rights of those whom are blind.

I for one will stand behind any blind cane user whether or not NFB, ACB or 
any affiliation and his/her right to use this device without prejudice just 
as much as I'll stand behind the rights of guide gog users for same.

Again I personally don't care about the affiliation or lack thereof in these 
circumstances for it is not a political party sort of thing in my mind 
anymore than right is right and wrong is wrong when it comes to Democrats 
and Republicans or visa versa if all catch my drift here.

Again as athe great civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. and others 
have said, "An injury to oneamonst us is an injury to all of us."

These principles of social and civil justice are in the bones of NFB for 
sure and go back to our founder Jacobus Tenbroek who said and wrote that, 
"We have the right to live in the world."

And colleagues we have those rights in law and equity if not in fact on a 
daily basis if we chose, with all informed consent, to get from here to over 
there, as they all say, using a dog, a flashlight, or a white cane or even 
hypnosis or some other silly stuff.

I'm not digressing here in my fervor, but rather, re-iterating concerns by 
Fred and William and I affirm they are valid.

I chose not to have a dog for a variety of reasons not worthy of this list 
for now.

But I'll fight to the death literally for the right of those to chose their 
form of mobility and more importantly for the rights of all to exercise 
their forms of mobility.

Imagine if you will for one rambling last second here something:

Imaganine that a cab company or uber or lift for that matter passes a knwn 
person who is sighted and denies him/her service just because he/she is 
sighted....Imagine that! Imagine...

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "William Vandervest via nfbmi-talk" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
To: "Fred Wurtzel" <f.wurtzel at att.net>; "NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing 
List" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, July 25, 2014 10:08 AM
Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] Uber Ridesharing now in Lansing, Grand 
Rapids,Kalamazoo, Flint

> that problem has been discussed extencively on some of theguide dog lists, 
> and i think we do need a resolution on this matter
>
>
> There are none so blind as those who will not see
>
> William and Leader Dog Lynard
>
> timelord09 at att.net
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Fred Wurtzel via nfbmi-talk" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
> To: "'J.J. Meddaugh'" <jj at bestmidi.com>; "'NFB of Michigan Internet 
> Mailing List'" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, July 25, 2014 8:16 AM
> Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] Uber Ridesharing now in Lansing, Grand 
> Rapids,Kalamazoo, Flint
>
>
>> Hi J,
>>
>> I, also, like the service.  However, I am told by Larry of our guidedog
>> division that drivers in Ann Arbor routinely won't allow guidedogs in 
>> their
>> cars.  Do you have any information about this.  Is this something we need 
>> a
>> resolution about at our state convention?
>>
>> Thanks for the update.
>>
>> Warmest Regards,
>>
>> Fred
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nfbmi-talk [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of J.J.
>> Meddaugh via nfbmi-talk
>> Sent: Friday, July 25, 2014 12:40 AM
>> To: NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List
>> Subject: [nfbmi-talk] Uber Ridesharing now in Lansing, Grand Rapids,
>> Kalamazoo, Flint
>>
>> I've talked about Uber, the cool and simple ridesharing service before, 
>> and
>> now it's in Lansing, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and Flint in addition to
>> Detroit and Ann Arbor.
>> For me, Uber is easier than cabs because you know when your vehicle is on
>> route and when it is arriving, payment is handled from the app itself, 
>> and
>> it's just simpler than taxis. You can get 5 free rides for the next two
>> weeks in the new Michigan cities by using the code michfree.
>> First, use the link below to sign up and get another free ride. THis will
>> give me a free ride as well.
>>         http://uber.com/invite/6k56q
>>
>> Then use the michfree code to unlock 5 more free rides for the next two
>> weeks.
>> I hardly ever use cabs now where Uber is available, and this really helps 
>> me
>> to be more indpendent in lots of areas. More transportation options is
>> always better.
>>
>> You need an iPhone, Android, or WIndows Phone to use Uber currently.
>> I'm happy to help anyone out in getting Uber set up if you need it. Just
>> send me an Email.
>> Enjoy.
>> --
>> Best regards,
>> J.J.
>>
>>
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