Yes, just when you thought that every passenger got the best experiences on rides with Uber, think again. Some passengers, such as those suffering from disabilities, are claiming discrimination from the ridesharing app. Here’s the scoop.
Legally blind
Ottawa resident Salome Solomon always wants to be with her guide dog, Zurich, but Uber Canada isn’t allowing her to ride with Zurich as a service animal.
Twenty times. That’s how many times Solomon got denied this part of the app’s service, particularly last year by drivers to say no transporting her guide dog.
Sometimes, her patience is tested, and there are times she has reached “her breaking point,” Canadian media stated.
“Every rejection breaks you down, so, for me, it basically hits deep. It’s like a dagger to my heart,” Solomon told Ridesharing Forum, wiping away tears.
She even sometimes records a video of herself in tears whenever she’s rejected a ride with Uber.
Uber’s policy on pets
Uber’s policy on pets, particularly service dogs, is clear: they must be allowed and never denied rides.
“State and federal law prohibit drivers using the Uber Driver app from denying service to riders with service animals…” Uber official stated.
There was a video she had wherein she and her guide dog were denied an Uber ride, with the Uber driver shaking his head.
“He’s not a pet, he’s my guide dog. You can’t deny me access,” she told the driver then. Even so, he drives away – leaving her and her dog stranded.
Psychologists today are curious, just like you, on why people are usually hostile to those living with disability.
The American Psychological Association agrees, saying this is common, but “engaging in critical thinking can be helpful in altering beliefs and avoiding ableist conclusions” is a solution.
Even Canada’s human rights legislation mandates that people with disabilities could travel with a service animal.
Is there a particular reason why service animals are denied? Will they puke inside the car? Will they make the vehicle dirty?
“I was angry [at] first, but then I became sad,” the passenger further noted. “It makes you feel humiliated, and it makes you feel so small.”
The ridesharing app’s statements on this
Nice for Uber, they did not just shrug away their shoulders upon hearing this incident. Uber Canada spokesperson Keerthana Rang stated the company is committed to accessible service and, over the past several years, has taken concrete steps to remedy the issue.
“We take this issue seriously,” she added. “We believe in equal transportation for all Canadians.”
Some others are sharing their sentiments, too, such as James Wilkinson, diagnosed with autism, stating, “You’ve got the money. You’ve got the tech. You have the talent to do better.”
Wilkinson also has a service dog to help him in his daily life, but his autism is causing drivers to deny him rides last year, and that happened six times, his complaints to the company stated. For more ridesharing news and insights, subscribe to Ridesharing Forum!