[nagdu] Blind people say cab drivers ignore them

Fri Mar 19 17:51:01 UTC 2010

I was more blissful when I was ignorant of how big a problem others'
ignorance can be! /grin/

Out here, in Bend and Portland both, it's customary to call for a cab on the
phone; the cab companies don't really have free-range drivers except for at
the train station and airport and the like.  So when I moved out here, I
picked a cab company and stuck with them and made sure I had friendly
relations.  When I got the dog, I debated whether to mention her on the
phone or not and decided, in the interests of the business relationship, to
go ahead and do that.  Part of the reason I decided to do that and why it
has worked so well has to do with local culture.  Also, there are plenty of
cabs, so giving Driver A the option of not wanting to pick up the dog just
means I will get a ride with Driver B who wants the fare.  So they know me
at the dispatch office, and they know about Mitzi, and it's all good.  I've
only ever had to wait a time or two when I called too late during a really
busy period.

It's tougher getting cabs out here, and there have been times I've missed
appointments because of the delay even though I call super early.  Usually
when I call dispatch to see where my cab is, it turns out dispatch just now
told them about it and they're heading my way from Portland.  Sigh.  There
aren't as many cabbies out here, because there aren't as many fares, and
some of them don't know the routes to get back to town when they do come out
because they're never been before.  They make valiant efforts, though, and
turn off the meter instead of charging me for their getting us lost, so it's
not all bad...  But I'm one of those people who generally needs to call a
cab because I'm running late for the bus and don't want to miss my
appointment.  /grin/  That worked much better for me when I wasn't out in
the sticks.

When I do face discrimination over something or other, it is super
frustrating that I can't even give the authorities helpful information -- to
them -- because they want visual identification.  License plate number of
the car that nearly ran you down in the cross walk, color and make of the
vehicle, etc., etc.  Were there any witnesses?

All I know is that it was a car and it entered my personal space and would
have mowed me down if my dog hadn't done a hard block to keep us from
walking in front of it.  I feel miffed and want somebody to chase them down
and give them a good talking to!  Only there's know way to know who they
are, so I just have to live with my snit, don't I?  /grin/

People who try to deny my access rights -- and I am fortunate that they are
few and far between -- can simply be walked around or over if they're not
willing to intelligently discuss the issues and ramifications.  /smile/  I
haven't had to scream cusswords over that yet, but I have it on my list as a
viable option.  /evil grin/

People on the bus and train have given me problems by blocking my access to
the "Honored Citizen" seating areas because they don't want to move their
dishonored butts to the empty seats where they wouldn't need to worry about
being infringed on by my cane or dog in the first place...  Still haven't
come up with a good solution to that one!

Oh, well!  As for the non-stopping cabbies, I know a lot of people are
addressing the issue incident by incident.  And none of us should have to!

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Albert J Rizzi
Sent: Friday, March 19, 2010 7:07 AM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Blind people say cab drivers ignore them

I think your position on the cultural thing is more accurate. I have had
drivers speed away even after having a sighted person hail the cab, door
open and all. I have had to reach into a car while someone else opened the
door or stood in front of the cab while I got in. I have had this problem
with Muslims, Asians and just some down right annoying white men. It is then
and only then that my frustrations with my blindness and my rights being
violated that I become this uncontrollable  monster using every four letter
word in the book I can muster. yet not one of the drivers ever call the
police as I ask them to do. 20/20 or some other like news program had done a
study on white males and black males in everyday society to underscore the
ever present discriminatory practices still present in our nation. The
drivers would pick up the white guy and more often then not speed past the
black guy. I for one feel this is the very same yet very different. we are
being discriminated against and we have little or no recourse when we cannot
properly file a complaint on a yellow blur speeding away. ignorance can be
bliss, but boy oh boy is it a pain in the arse when you are trying to make
an appointment or train or plane in a timely manner. But I have also had
wonderful and uplifting moments in Manhattan where the drivers were so kind
and so genuine  some even refused to take money for the ride, but they did
get a nice tip. It seems to be the luck of the draw, but luck should have
nothing at all to do with public travel. Peace.

Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
CEO/Founder
My Blind Spot, Inc.
90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
New York, New York  10004
www.myblindspot.org
PH: 917-553-0347
Fax: 212-858-5759
"The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one who is
doing it."

Visit us on Facebook LinkedIn

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Tracy Carcione
Sent: Friday, March 19, 2010 9:04 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Blind people say cab drivers ignore them

This happens in New York City, too.  If I have to get a taxi on the street
in the city, I try to get someone else to hail it for me while I stand
back like I'm not interested.  Then when they stop I jump in.  I usually
don't try to get a taxi, because it can be such a hassle.
However, last year when I was visiting the hospital a lot, the taxi
drivers that wait out front for possible fares would call out to me and my
husband, asking if we wanted a taxi, which we often did.  It was a
refreshing change from the usual. So maybe the NYC taxi drivers are
getting the idea.  Or maybe it's a culture thing--the drivers around the
hospital are mostly Dominicans, who don't seem to have a cultural bias
against dogs.
Tracy

> Blind People Say Cab Drivers Ignore Them
> Cab Company Says It's Not Illegal Not To Stop
>
> POSTED: Tuesday, March 16, 2010
> UPDATED: 7:37 am EDT March 17,2010
> Source: http://www.justnews.com/news/22856062/detail.html
>
>
> MIAMI -- Getting around South Florida is nearly impossible for
> blind members of our community. Some people say that instead of
> stopping, cab drivers knowingly pass blind people by.
>
> Video
> Miami Beach resident David New told Local 10 that, nine out of 10
> times, when he is hailing a cab, the driver refuses to stop.
>
> New said that cab drivers who did stop often told him, "'No dogs
> in my cab.'"
>
> State and federal laws say that service animals must be permitted
> to accompany any individual with a disability wherever the
> general public is allowed to go. It is against the Americans with
> Disabilities Act for a taxicab driver to refuse to pick someone
> up because of a service animal.
>
> Local 10 cameras accompanied New to Collins Avenue and 13th
> Street in Miami. Several empty cabs slowed down and then the
> drivers looked and took off.
>
> The general manager of Super Yellow Cab said drivers are not
> required to stop.
>
> "There is nothing illegal about not stopping," he said. "By law,
> it's not mandatory for them to stop at any passenger on the
> street, especially if they feel it could be a dangerous job."
>
> Miami-Dade Consumer Affairs licenses cab drivers in the county. A
> spokesperson said a driver who fails to pick up person because of
> a guide dog could be fined or suspended.
>
> "This is part of their training. It's ingrained in them during
> their training. The issue is thoroughly covered. They can't claim
> ignorance," said Consumer Affairs spokeswoman Sonya Perez.
>
> "Hopefully people will start to understand this is really
> discrimination," New said.
>
> The CEO of the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind recently had an
> incident at Miami International Airport. Virginia Jacko said a
> cab driver refused to take her and her guide dog to Coconut
> Grove.
>
> "The county employee who was helping me tried to tell him he had
> to take me. They got into a shouting match and were screaming at
> each other," Jacko said.
>
> To file a complaint with Miami-Dade Consumer Services, visit the
> Miami-Dade County Web site.
>
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