Back in 2014 the Chicago Tribune published an op-ed piece I wrote that was titled “Should ride-sharing services adhere to the Americans with Disabilities Act?” Five years have passed, and Lyft and Uber still claim they don’t have to follow ADA guidelines.
A story in Politico last week reports that Lyft is fighting a federal class action lawsuit filed in New York’s Westchester County on the grounds that “it is not in the transportation business.”
Ahead of its public offering, Lyft acknowledged it has been involved in legal battles about its ongoing refusal to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. From The Politico story :
“For a company that says they want to do the right thing — they should do the right thing,” said attorney Jeremiah Lee Frey-Pearson, who is representing the plaintiffs in the New York class action lawsuit. “Not serving people with disabilities is very inconsistent with the public message that Lyft wants to send as being an inclusive and progressive company.”
Suits have been filed against Uber, too, and Uber also maintains that its drivers do not have to follow the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Attorney rei-Pearson told Politico that he and his colleagues have been reluctant to sue Uber at the same time they bring up this case against Lyft because of all the other other national litigation against Uber.
The Politico story says, “Lyft continues to bill itself as a better-behaved version of arch-rival Uber,” and Campbell Matthews, a spokesperson for Lyft, wrote in an emailed statement to Politico that “We think about accessibility broadly and know that many who were previously underserved by transit and taxis are now able to rely on Lyft for convenient and affordable rides.”
So does that mean it’s okay to refuse riders with disabilities? The ADA says “public transportation authorities may not discriminate against people with disabilities in the provision of their services,” but Uber and Lyft identify themselves as technology companies — not transportation companies. The drivers are independent, they drive their own vehicles, so Uber and Lyft feel they are not required to provide ADA-mandated vehicles and rides.
I have taken about a dozen rides on Uber and Lyft over the years. Only one driver refused to take me with my service dog, and that was a Lyft driver. Without the law on my side, my only recourse was to call another driver and hope they’d take me. It all makes me feel unworthy.
Whenever possible, I ride in a registered cab rather than using a ridesharing service. Cabs that are registered are part of a public transportation authority, registered cab drivers go through a lot of training to get their cab licenses, they are professional drivers, they know where they’re going, and when I call for a ride, I have the law on my side: the ADA prohibits public transit authorities from discriminating against people with disabilities in the provision of their services. And then there’s this: I tip well!
Now, that doesn’t guarantee that registered cab drivers will pick me up with my Seeing Eye dog, but it does guarantee I have recourse. I haven’t been refused a ride from a registerd cab in years. I think that’s because they know the law.
I get the utility of Uber and Lyft. Especially outside of major cities and downtowns. But, by all accounts, they cut every corner they can. So whenever possible, I’ll cut them out, too.
Uber and Lyft are also not my cup of tea. They drive without care for the rules and a U-turn in an intersection on Broadway is not OK. At least with taxis…they wear the regalia of crazy driving. You can see clearly they are going to be trouble. Only after I am cut off from two lanes over do I see the tiny square of death in the window. And now with your reminder…I have no need to use their service…a technology company? That might explain why they don’t see themselves at all in the decency business.
Right on, sister! I’d laugh at your describing it as the “tiny square of death in the window” if it weren’t so true. Uber and Lyft drivers tend to stop to drop off – and pick up –their riders at unexpected spots, which can be very confusing to me. I hear a car idling, is it at a stop sign? Is itat a red light? Are we at an intersection? Or is that a driver working for a “technology company”? Makes it more difficult to know when it’s safe to give Seeing Eye dog Whitney the “forward” command sometimes.
I’ve actually had good experiences with Uber. I’ve only ridden with them a few times, and during each round trip the drivers were professional and courteous. I am a cane user, and never during these trips was I discriminated against for that or for being with human companions. Additionally, I’ve found their iOS app to be pretty accessible with VoiceOver. It’s not great but good enough where I can use it with only a bit of sighted assistance. Keep in mind here that I only became an iPhone user last year and am still learning. That said, the service does seem to be a bit expensive. A neighbor of mine has used Uber with some kind of travel card which apparently provides discounts to people who have disabilities and people over age 65. I’ve not used Lyft, and I read on AppleVis that their app has major issues with VoiceOver. I’m mainly an ADA paratransit rider and while the service still has issues, it is so much better than when I first began using it back in the 90s.
Good point. I’m guessing those of us who use wheelchairs or walkers or guide dogs or any sort of helper tool that is bulkier than a white cane (assuming yours is collapsible?) are more likely to encounter discrimination. Curious about this discount card your friend has for Uber. Anyone else heard of that?
Beth, Uber and Lyft policies never passed in my mind. The old “walk a mile in my shoes” applies. I’m sorry that Uber and Lyft are able to discriminate against the disabled. Glad that cab drivers are around to serve you.
Me too. I’m afraid at some point registered cabs will no longer exist, but I’m using them while I can.
I don’t use Lyft, but I use Uber, and it has a complaint track for ride denials because of a service dog. One of my complaints got a driver terminated. NFB filed a lawsuit on this issue, and Uber was ordered to clean up their act, which they seem to have done, mostly.
Cool. I’ll check out the National Federation of the Blind (that’s what NFB stands for here) site to find out more about that law suit. Thanks for letting me know.
We don’t use either “service.” We prefer to be driven, when necessary, by professional drivers, such as those who drive black cars and yellow cabs and who paid a MILLION DOLLARS for their medallions. These drivers, almost all of whom are immigrants trying to get a leg up in America, now own a piece of paper that is worthless because of Lyft and Uber and the so-called gig economy. Lyft and Uber clog the already crowded streets waiting to be summoned by customers and rarely do they know the best way to get anywhere.
I am sorry but not surprised, to learn of your trouble with being picked up, Beth.
Beth, If it makes you feel any better, I have read that the business model used by Uber and Lyft is not sustainable. Customers are not yet paying the true costs of their rides, and once the situation becomes untenable for drivers, the prices will go way up and I suspect people will return to taxis and other forms of transportation.
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