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<DIV
style='FONT-SIZE: small; TEXT-DECORATION: none; FONT-FAMILY: "Calibri"; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; COLOR: #000000; FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline'><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 36pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Georgia",serif; COLOR: #c1c1c1'>Commentary:
</SPAN><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 36pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Georgia",serif'>Lynx looks to
partner with Uber to give rides to disabled folks</SPAN><SPAN
style='FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=WordSection1>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: "><SPAN
style='FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif'>Article Link: <A
href="http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/lake/os-lauren-ritchie-uber-lynx-partnership-20170427-story.html">http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/lake/os-lauren-ritchie-uber-lynx-partnership-20170427-story.html</A><B> </B><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: "><B><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Georgia",serif; COLOR: #262626'>Q.
</SPAN></B><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Georgia",serif; COLOR: #262626'>What dolt
would try to bar a Labrador retriever from a public place who is a trained guide
dog for his blind owner?</SPAN><SPAN
style='FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: "><B><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Georgia",serif; COLOR: #262626'>A.
</SPAN></B><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Georgia",serif; COLOR: #262626'>One who
works for the on-demand car service company <A
href="https://mandrillapp.com/track/click/30489975/www.orlandosentinel.com?p=eyJzIjoidFZQQ3U0UmdRVkF2RzY1U3RPc2Y4MHhPLXNnIiwidiI6MSwicCI6IntcInVcIjozMDQ4OTk3NSxcInZcIjoxLFwidXJsXCI6XCJodHRwOlxcXC9cXFwvd3d3Lm9ybGFuZG9zZW50aW5lbC5jb21cXFwvdG9waWNcXFwvYnVzaW5lc3NcXFwvdHJhbnNwb3J0YXRpb24taW5kdXN0cnlcXFwvdWJlci1PUkNSUDAwMTc3MzgtdG9waWMuaHRtbFwiLFwiaWRcIjpcImM3YTJkMTFmMWUwMDQ4Y2Q4NDE4YzA3ODQyZTU3NThkXCIsXCJ1cmxfaWRzXCI6W1wiM2YxMTgwZjk5N2VhZGU1M2E1OGQyNDkwNWZiZGFiNGQyZTU1YjVhOVwiXX0ifQ"><SPAN
style="COLOR: #d63f09">Uber</SPAN></A>.</SPAN><SPAN
style='FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: "><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Georgia",serif; COLOR: #262626'>In a grand
show of First-World selfishness, one of Uber’s drivers in October declared she
didn’t want dog hair in her Cadillac and refused to let a guide dog named Keats
hop in with his owner. A polite creature, Keats sat quietly outside the car,
watching.</SPAN><SPAN
style='FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: "><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Georgia",serif; COLOR: #262626'>His owner,
Judy Mathews, who has been blind from birth, calmly detailed for the driver the
federal law that allows her service dog to go anywhere she does, but the shrew
of a driver didn’t care. (One can imagine this driver bursting into tears when
her iPhone 7 plus didn’t fit in the back pocket of her favorite
jeans.)</SPAN><SPAN
style='FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: "><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Georgia",serif; COLOR: #262626'>Mathews
complained and is still waiting for the <A
href="https://mandrillapp.com/track/click/30489975/www.orlandosentinel.com?p=eyJzIjoiVmx4UklTblpNMDFxX2hacC1vUzJKeHdNWEhZIiwidiI6MSwicCI6IntcInVcIjozMDQ4OTk3NSxcInZcIjoxLFwidXJsXCI6XCJodHRwOlxcXC9cXFwvd3d3Lm9ybGFuZG9zZW50aW5lbC5jb21cXFwvdG9waWNcXFwvY3JpbWUtbGF3LWp1c3RpY2VcXFwvdS5zLi1kZXBhcnRtZW50LW9mLWp1c3RpY2UtT1JHT1YwMDAwMTYwLXRvcGljLmh0bWxcIixcImlkXCI6XCJjN2EyZDExZjFlMDA0OGNkODQxOGMwNzg0MmU1NzU4ZFwiLFwidXJsX2lkc1wiOltcIjljNGYxMTI0MmQ0ZDc5ODNhZGU2MTVmZmJiOGNhNWFiMjE0NjhjODNcIl19In0"><SPAN
style="COLOR: #d63f09">U.S. Department of Justice</SPAN></A> to finish
investigating the incident.</SPAN><SPAN
style='FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: "><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Georgia",serif; COLOR: #262626'>Last year,
Uber settled a lawsuit with the National Federation for the Blind by agreeing to
educate drivers on the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and
ban those who don’t follow the law.</SPAN><SPAN
style='FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: "><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Georgia",serif; COLOR: #262626'>Mathews’
encounter with the clueless driver shows Uber didn’t successfully educate <I>all
</I>its drivers. A new law to prevent discrimination against the disabled using
ride-sharing networks sailed through the Legislature this year. It requires
drivers to accommodate service animals like Keats.</SPAN><SPAN
style='FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: "><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Georgia",serif; COLOR: #262626'>Even while
Uber was fighting to keep Keats and his canine colleagues out of its drivers’
cars, plans were afoot behind the scenes to turn the company into a partner and
a life-changing force for the disabled.</SPAN><SPAN
style='FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: "><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Georgia",serif; COLOR: #262626'>Advocates
are pushing the Lynx bus system and handicapped transportation service to
partner with the Uber to provide cheaper rides for the disabled in Orange,
Seminole, Osceola and parts of Lake and Polk counties.</SPAN><SPAN
style='FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: "><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Georgia",serif; COLOR: #262626'>Edward
Johnson, Lynx’s chief executive officer, vowed that it <I>will </I>come to pass.
Johnson said planning is expected to start by mid-June, though how it would work
is undecided. At least one advocate from Lighthouse Central Florida, which
assists people with vision loss, is urging Lynx to adopt the system being used
in a trial project in Boston.</SPAN><SPAN
style='FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: "><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Georgia",serif; COLOR: #262626'>That one
requires disabled people to sign up and be verified for handicapped service by
the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. Then, the handicapped person
creates an account with one of the services and receives instructions on how to
use it.</SPAN><SPAN
style='FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: "><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Georgia",serif; COLOR: #262626'>The
program features reduced fares, lower wait times, same-day booking, faster
trips, no sharing of rides, access to vehicles that can fit a wheelchair and in
some cases the use of a smart phone provided by Uber. The drivers are specially
trained.</SPAN><SPAN
style='FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: "><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Georgia",serif; COLOR: #262626'>“This is
the best time, the best chance for this to work because safeguards are now in
place,” enthused Lighthouse communications manager Richard Alleyne. “Drivers
would get training on how to deal with passengers traveling with service animals
— they would be compelled to take training — and they would cast themselves in a
better light.”</SPAN><SPAN
style='FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: "><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Georgia",serif; COLOR: #262626'>Alleyne
envisions Lynx’s para-transit system possibly picking up half the
cost.</SPAN><SPAN
style='FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: "><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Georgia",serif; COLOR: #262626'>Uber
spokesman Javi Correoso agreed that the new law opens the door for ride service
to work with Lynx and said Uber will be “exploring many
opportunities.”</SPAN><SPAN
style='FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: "><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Georgia",serif; COLOR: #262626'>Lynx’s
Johnson hasn’t jumped in the backseat with Keats quite yet. Lynx currently is
negotiating a new contract with its provider of handicapped transportation,
which uses big vans for wheelchairs. The agreement will have new provisions
defining how the company would work with ride-share enterprises like Uber and
Lyft. Once that’s done, Johnson said, he plans to start talking with the Lynx
board of directors about how to structure such a partnership.</SPAN><SPAN
style='FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: "><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Georgia",serif; COLOR: #262626'>“It’s the
right thing to do,” said Johnson, who also serves on Lighthouse’s board of
directors.</SPAN><SPAN
style='FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: "><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Georgia",serif; COLOR: #262626'>First in
line for service will be Mathews — with Keats, of course. Mathews still uses
ride-sharing services because of the cost and the convenience. If other blind
folks could be sure their guide dogs wouldn’t be turned away, having such a
service has the potential to change lives, she said.</SPAN><SPAN
style='FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: "><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Georgia",serif; COLOR: #262626'>“With Uber
and Lyft, it opens a whole new world for people with disabilities who don’t
drive,” Mathews said. “You can be spontaneous, change your schedule. I’m so
excited about the possibilities.”</SPAN><SPAN
style='FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: "><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Georgia",serif; COLOR: #262626'>All right,
government, let’s get on it. Keats says he wants a Sunday drive in the
country.</SPAN><SPAN
style='FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: "><SPAN
style='FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif'><A
href="mailto:Lritchie@orlandosentinel.com"><I><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Georgia",serif; COLOR: blue'>Lritchie@orlandosentinel.com</SPAN></I></A></SPAN><I><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Georgia",serif; COLOR: #262626'>. Lauren
invites you to send her a friend request on Facebook at <A
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