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

Sat Jul 26 01:51:15 UTC 2014

The law is clearly on our side here. Rideshare services are a public 
service so the same accomodations need to be provided. If a driver 
refuses a passenger because of a guide dog, that driver should be 
reported and we should make sure the company follows up and takes care 
of the situation.

Best regards,
J.J.

On 7/25/2014 6:47 PM, joe harcz Comcast via nfbmi-talk wrote:
> 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.
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> nfbmi-talk mailing list
>>> nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> nfbmi-talk:
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org/f.wurtzel%40att.net 
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> nfbmi-talk mailing list
>>> nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info 
>>> for nfbmi-talk:
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org/timelord09%40att.net 
>>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nfbmi-talk mailing list
>> nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
>> nfbmi-talk:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org/joeharcz%40comcast.net 
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nfbmi-talk mailing list
> nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> nfbmi-talk:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org/jj%40bestmidi.com