[Nfbmt] More Washington Seminar Information!

[James Aldrich]

Hi all!

Please contact the person in the Email who told about the referenced 
IPhone App.  They would be able to answer your questions since I don't 
have the app myself.  I find this to be most interesting!

Jim


Mika PyyhkalaTo:State Affiliate Leadership 
(state-affiliate-leadership-list at nfbnet.org)Cc:Timothy 
ElderSubject:[State-affiliate-leadership-list] Free Rides at Washington 
Seminar via New Sidecar NFB of MA Accessibility Agreement - Prepare Now 
to Use this Benefit #NFBWS14


https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sidecar-ride/id524617679?mt=8



(please forward to your own state lists & networks)



Hi,



If you have an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, please activate the above 
link from your device and download the free Sidecar app.  Then go 
through the account setup process.  By doing this, you will have 
completed all necessary prerequisites to getting free ground 
transportation in DC for Washington Seminar #NFBWS14!  If you do this 
now, before leaving for Washington, it will be one less thing to do 
during an already busy week!



You may have read a couple of weeks ago that the NFB of Massachusetts 
along with 2 members reached an accessibility agreement with Sidecar.  
Sidecar is a transportation network company or e-hail app.  You can 
request a Sidecar ride from an app on your iOS smartphone, track the 
arrival of the car in real time, and payment is cashless.  We worked 
with Timothy Elder of the TRE Legal Group along with Sidecar to reach 
this cooperative accessibility agreement.



I use these TNC or e-hail apps all the time, and whenever I have to 
take a traditional taxi, it is really like going back to the dark ages. 
These apps are so much more convenient and efficient than using a 
traditional taxi.  For example, I know exactly when my driver will be 
pulling up so I can go outside precisely at the right time, and its 
great to just get out of the car & not have to deal with cash or credit 
cards in the vehicle, and of course receipts are emailed & accessible!



Sidecar wants to introduce attendees of the 2014 Washington seminar to 
their service, and during the seminar, a promotion code will be made 
available that will give new and existing Sidecar users a $20 credit.  
The code will only be available from Sunday 1/26 to Thursday 1/30, and 
must be entered while you are physically in Washington, DC.



The promotion code will be announced during the Great Gathering Inn 
meeting, and may also be available through other communication channels.



Please reply to this email with questions you have, or questions you 
think other attendees may have about this, so that we can start 
creating a frequently asked questions document.



The most important thing right now is that you, and your members, 
download and install Sidecar, and set up an account, so you will be 
ready to take advantage of the promotion once in DC!  You may also want 
to start getting familiar with the app in advance.



If each of you downloads this app and receives the $20 credit, this 
will significantly lower your affiliate & members ground transportation 
costs in DC.  Think going to and from the hill, dinners, site seeing, 
going back to the airport or train station, etc.



One challenge we often see is that your techy early adopters will try 
something like this, but people that do not have an afinity to 
technology may not try it.  So any suggestions you may have for 
reaching people that don't have a real passion or afinity to technology 
who would benefit from this would be very helpful!



Also please note that the Android app may not currently be accessible, 
and there are documented work plans to add accessibility to Android.  
There are also documented accessibility work plans to add access to the 
map data in the iPhone app, but you can still use the iPhone app now 
with VoiceOver to request and complete rides.



Thank you in advance, and happy riding!



Best,

Mika Pyyhkala, NFB of Massachusetts



Sidecar Web site: http://side.cr

Sidecar Twitter: @sidecar


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