“Lyft is not a government institution. It is a private company that has no obligation to provide WAVs on its platform,” Lyft officials wrote in a private federal court filing obtained by NBC News."
- Char Adams, NBC News
As a wheelchair user rideshare remains largely inaccessible due to a lack of Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV) offerings. In my near decade of using Uber and Lyft, (and across thousands of rides) I recall a single instance of successfully hailing a WAV following an hour long wait. Since being matched with Canine Companions® Pico in 2014, my access challenges have expanded to include service dog discrimination. While I know there are dedicated employees and insiders at Lyft and Uber working toward change, (h/t Nicholas Mendelke!) they are the exception. The overall track record of both platforms providing transportation to disabled passengers is horrendous.
Advocates understand these companies framing themselves as tech firms is a disingenuous attempt to skirt federal law. Consequently, recent landmark lawsuits brought by U.S. Department of Justice around equal access are notable. Earlier this year Uber settled a lawsuit regarding wait times, while in 2020 Lyft settled a lawsuit agreeing to provide rides to passengers with foldable wheelchairs. For most cities, wheelchair users are rerouted out of the app in favor of third-party transportation ACCESS providers, thus negating the entire on-demand premise these platforms were founded upon.
Even knowing WAVs are not something I can rely on, I’ve continued using these platforms out of necessity. I'm thankful my mobility allows me to opt to do so without my wheelchair but that’s not the case for everyone, and access issues persist for those with disabilities.
Since beginning to publicly document my experiences in 2018, I've made national headlines on Fox News TV, NowThis and written extensively on the topic. Sadly, systemic failures remain. Despite having policies that publicly align with the ADA, both platforms routinely refuse passengers with service animals. So much so I’ve built in “rejection time” to account for the increased attempts required to secure a ride. However, the discrimination goes much deeper. Drivers often make disparaging remarks toward us once the ride initiates making for an awkward journey or submit an amended final bill for Pico's incidental shedding in violation of the ADA. Some drivers falsely claim Pico has left urine, feces, or vomit in their vehicle to justify an exorbitant cleaning fee. Most recently, a driver tipped themselves upward of 25% without consent in retaliation. All of these instances take time and energy to correct through layers of bureaucracy often stretching days.
We have a long way to go before equity is achieved. Let’s work together to hold companies accountable.
#disability #ridesharing #uber #lyft #discrimination #accessibility