Justice Department Sues Uber for Denying Rides to Passengers with Service Dogs, Wheelchairs (www.justice.gov)
from Pro@programming.dev to technology@lemmy.world on 13 Sep 09:04
https://programming.dev/post/37356517

cross-posted from: programming.dev/post/37354567

#technology

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ivanafterall@lemmy.world on 13 Sep 09:16 next collapse

Not 100% relevant, but I recently opted into Uber Pet rides and they’re always the highlight of my day. I’ve already had a repeat rider, Chomp the lab. Just wanted to brag, I guess.

Edit: Fuck Uber though, for real.

Holytimes@sh.itjust.works on 14 Sep 05:37 collapse

Give chomp a pat for me please he sounds like a certified good boi

ivanafterall@lemmy.world on 14 Sep 08:23 collapse

The last dog I had was a ~30 minute ride. The owner fell asleep and the dog stood on the middle console and leaned against me for pets. Admittedly not the safest, but what was I to do.

halcyoncmdr@lemmy.world on 13 Sep 11:06 next collapse

First off, FUCK UBER… but I don’t see Uber being at any sort of fault here unless their policy is no animals, which it obviously isn’t because Uber Pet exists. Only possibly by not routing service animal rides through Uber Pet exclusively since those drivers are already expecting animals.

Do we really want to say that in order to participate in rideshare driving at all that you must allow animals in your private vehicle?

Uber drivers use their own vehicles, they are not Uber’s property or responsibility. If an owner doesn’t want animals in their vehicle, they cannot and should not be forced to. A lot of people don’t want animals in their vehicles, trained or not. They may be worried about damage from things like claws to the fabrics, etc. and don’t want to deal with that possibility, whereas the Uber Pet drivers are prepared for that.

And this doesn’t even get into the bastards that lie about their pets and “emotional support” animals being service animals causing problems for those that actually do need the assistance. There’s no penalty for lying about it, and no verification system to filter those out.

mitram@sopuli.xyz on 13 Sep 11:11 next collapse

I’m assuming you are describing the driver’s pov from the context of the USA.

Do the drivers really use their own cars? Where I’m from drivers usually rent the cars or have a profit sharing agreement with a fleet management company.

halcyoncmdr@lemmy.world on 13 Sep 11:17 next collapse

That does happen, usually that’s more how traditional cabs operate, and even then in many places they own the cab and contract to a company for fares.

The vast majority of rideshare drivers in the US use their own vehicle.

black_flag@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 13 Sep 11:18 next collapse

Yeah, that was the big change uber brought. Traditional cabs were leased, and a lot of people do lease they’re cars for uber (though by the year instead of the day) but that’s nothing to do with uber and there’s no fleet.

TheMinions@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 13 Sep 12:51 collapse

Yes,I use my own car for Uber.

Lemme know if you have any other questions!

mitram@sopuli.xyz on 13 Sep 14:09 collapse

Are you required to get any special licence? Does your car require some distinctive sign to show that it’s registered in a rideshare platform?

TheMinions@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 13 Sep 14:15 collapse

No. Just special insurance.

My state requires both a sign with the Uber name and my license plate in the window. These are removable and provided by Uber.

mitram@sopuli.xyz on 13 Sep 14:36 collapse

Sorry for the interrogation, are you allowed to drive through the bus lanes?

Thank you for helping me deal with my curiosity lol

[deleted] on 13 Sep 14:52 next collapse

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RipLemmDotEE@lemmy.today on 13 Sep 15:05 next collapse

Uber drivers don’t have the right to use bus lanes, at least in my state.

TheMinions@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 13 Sep 15:34 collapse

No drivers do I believe. But also I don’t have bus lanes in my area.

mitram@sopuli.xyz on 13 Sep 16:38 collapse

Unfortunate, I asked because I see Ubers/bolts using them all the time since they are considered public transportation here

Thank you for all the information

black_flag@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 13 Sep 11:16 next collapse

Yeah, I don’t think that’s crazy for proper service animals, they’re very well trained.

halcyoncmdr@lemmy.world on 13 Sep 11:19 collapse

It’s not about training. People lie, and there is no way to verify service animals. Lying about pets and claiming they are service animals is already an issue for places like restaurants and hotels.

if Uber requires all drivers to allow pets, then so be it. But that’s the only way to ensure consistency.

Zwuzelmaus@feddit.org on 13 Sep 11:58 next collapse

but I don’t see Uber being at any sort of fault here unless their policy is no animals

If it is about a neccessary service dog, then it’s not up to them (or their policy) to decide. At least, it shouldn’t be.

halcyoncmdr@lemmy.world on 13 Sep 14:56 collapse

But it’s up to the driver whether to allow an animal in their personal vehicle.

BradleyUffner@lemmy.world on 13 Sep 15:27 next collapse

No, it isn’t. The ADA is very clear in this.

Oh, and once you start using your vehicle for business purposes, especially transporting people for money, it’s no longer a “personal vehicle”.

Zwuzelmaus@feddit.org on 13 Sep 16:21 collapse

But it’s up to the driver whether to allow

No. Doing public transport as a business means, it is public now and it must not be up to the driver’s mood anymore (within reasonable boundaries that should be defined by some law).

cupcakezealot@piefed.blahaj.zone on 13 Sep 12:03 next collapse

because uber needs to comply with the ada act just like any company.

halcyoncmdr@lemmy.world on 13 Sep 14:58 collapse

Is Uber saying no? Or are drivers cancelling rides when they realize there’s an animal that wasn’t disclosed previously, and they aren’t part of Uber Pets?

Because there’s a distinct difference there.

Holytimes@sh.itjust.works on 14 Sep 05:40 collapse

There actually isn’t. Uber is responsible for their contractors and are liable when they fuck up. As they are the ones who hired them.

devfuuu@lemmy.world on 13 Sep 13:48 next collapse

I’ve had my fair share of seeing uber drivers starting conflict when I accompany a blind person with their dog. They deserve it.

shortwavesurfer@lemmy.zip on 13 Sep 19:24 collapse

I see both sides of this. As a blind person myself, I frequently interact with people who have service dogs and such. Hell, at one point in my life, I had a girlfriend who had a service dog because she was deafblind and I have seen her be denied rides in person.

Every driver who signs up for Uber in the Terms of Service has a thing about having to accept service animals, no matter whether it’s a pet ride or not. It’s just in the account Terms of Service when you create your driver account. If you read them, you will find it.

So if you absolutely unequivocally do not want service animals in your car, you cannot drive for either of these services.

I guess you could do like the restaurant deliveries or whatever, but to take passengers, you couldn’t do it.

[deleted] on 13 Sep 11:11 next collapse

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hector@lemmy.today on 13 Sep 11:11 next collapse

Looks like uber did not pay dear leader his protection money.

Not joking.

cupcakezealot@piefed.blahaj.zone on 13 Sep 12:02 next collapse

so what's the real reason they're suing uber? because it sure as fuck ain't because they care about accessibility.

Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works on 13 Sep 14:08 next collapse

As a family who uses a non-stowable wheelchair this is why we use taxis instead, on the few occasions we can’t use our own minivan. I’m not sure how Uber could comply, but how about offering a bonus to drivers when they accept these rides? Rider could enter a code confirming the dog or wheelchair or whatever, driver gets extra 10%

electric@lemmy.world on 13 Sep 14:26 collapse

If a wheelchair is non-stowable (I assume it means not able to fold?), then why is a taxi different? Or are you referring to the large taxi cabs?

PriorityMotif@lemmy.world on 13 Sep 15:05 next collapse

Accommodation requests have to be reasonable. If the wheelchair won’t physically fit in the car then you can’t force the driver to drive an accessible vehicle at all times. That would be unreadonable. Though they can’t deny rides to people if the wheelchair could fit in the trunk or whatever.

electric@lemmy.world on 13 Sep 20:58 collapse

I don’t think the commenter wanted drivers to let people squeeze their wheelchairs into their tiny cars, rather that taxis are convenient because they can probably specifically request one that accommodates them. I’m guessing Uber doesn’t let you do that, but I somewhat certain Lyft let’s you notify potential drivers that you are wheelchair-bound in case their car cannot fit you.

Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works on 13 Sep 20:22 collapse

In our city the taxi companies are required to have a certain percentage of accessible cabs to meet the ADA. It’s led to them having even more, as they realized how good they are for carrying luggage as well. I’m talking minivans with ramps, lowered floors, and tiedowns, so the person can ride in their wheelchair. Some don’t kneel, so the ramp is steep from the ground, but they’re fine at curbs. We’re fortunate enough to have a nice one of our own, but for a trip to the airport, or in case of a breakdown, or going somewhere with terrible parking they’re good.

electric@lemmy.world on 13 Sep 20:55 collapse

That’s really nice then. I’m wondering if that’s why I rarely see any regular taxis. 90% of the ones I spot are the ones that are in between an SUV and minivan.

electric@lemmy.world on 13 Sep 14:23 next collapse

Wow, I’ve only been using Lyft for a good while now and I just assumed Uber took disabled riders as serious as they do.

I’m not disabled or have a service animal, but Lyft makes it very visible on the app that if you are one/have one, the drivers MUST be accommodating. They make it easy to report as well if they are not.

At least one company seems to care (I hope).

Fredselfish@lemmy.world on 14 Sep 01:18 collapse

How that work if you have a car that won’t fit a wheelchair? Or do they make sure to only send drivers who have appropriate vehicles?

electric@lemmy.world on 14 Sep 12:46 collapse

From my assumptions, the drivers see ahead of time if you use a wheelchair because the app asks you to mark yourself as a wheelchair user.

So you’d only be accepting it if you wanted to.

njordomir@lemmy.world on 13 Sep 19:22 next collapse

To me this sounds like a fundamental problem with their business model. Private vehicles used for public transportation by people who aren’t well-trained commercial drivers.

I have always thought it was sketchy that we let random people in the US be commercial drivers for Uber without forcing them to get a new type of license or earn some kind of state certificate because most people are absolutely shit drivers and beyond that, there are rules for dealing with people (in this case disability stuff) that you should know if you drive the public.

Would you get in a car with that dude “Chad” who hangs out behind the bowling ally, or that chick “Tammy” who learned to drive from her highschool boyfriend who was a year or two older than her and basically got a rubber-stamped license because the US doesn’t actually take driver safety seriously?

Psythik@lemmy.world on 13 Sep 19:45 collapse

See this is why I prefer robotaxis. At least I know I’ll get a consistent experience every time. They all drive exactly the same way and always arrive exactly at my set pickup spot. They never cancel rides because they don’t get too lazy to find the pickup spot I set. And the best part: No tipping.

Edit: Why the downvotes? Y’all have no idea what you’re missing out on. Radar-based self-driving cars are the future, whether you like it or not. As someone who has been on hundreds of rides, I can assure you that they’re they’re a hell of a lot better at driving THAN* (LMAO) humans. I feel much safer in a robotaxi over an unpredictable Uber/Lyft driver.

spacesatan@leminal.space on 13 Sep 21:19 next collapse

There is a subset of people on lemmy who embody the npc :| >:| meme specifically for anything tangentially related to elon musk. Elon likes the idea of self driving cars so it’s better if 10 people are killed by human drivers than 1 person is killed by a self driving car.

Psythik@lemmy.world on 13 Sep 21:34 collapse

Yeah but Elon Musk thinks that camera-based self driving alone is adequate. I’m not talking about Teslas anyway. Fuck Tesla and fuck Musk. The robotaxis I ride in have several radar antennas on them in addition to the cameras, and they only drive in designated areas so there’s no worry about them ever encountering unfamiliar terrain. Plus there’s a screen in the car that shows you exactly what it sees and what its next move is going to be. That feature alone gives me peace-of-mind.

Honestly, riding in one feels so safe and predictable, that I have no qualms about reclining the seat and taking a nap. If more people tried them, maybe they’d understand what I’m getting at.

DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works on 13 Sep 21:38 next collapse

Lemmy has a AI-Hate boner, so everytime someone talks about automation, their brains have an automatic response compelling them to downvote, not realizing that the correct reaction is not “oh no, robots are replaving us”, rather, it’s “Okay, now tax the rich and give evryone UBI”.

Jobs should be automated whenever possible, provided that it can meet safety requirements, but the profits from automation should belong to the people. In fact, people should outright (collectively) own that auto-taxi service.

kerntucky@infosec.pub on 14 Sep 23:18 next collapse

I can assure you that they’re they’re a hell of a lot better at driving at humans.

I know it’s off-topic but I found that typo funny given the context of the conversation. Driving at humans.

captainlezbian@lemmy.world on 15 Sep 00:30 collapse

It’s why I prefer trains. That and once you experience good public transit it’s really nice.

123@programming.dev on 15 Sep 04:34 collapse

Agreed. Replacing something that creates traffic and congestion, car dependency and deaths with the same but slightly better is not much of an improvement.

Especially when we know for a fact public transportation used to be a thing in north america (where I’m assuming the other commenter is from) before the car industry bribes and acquisitions destroyed it for a larger profit.

daq@lemmy.sdf.org on 13 Sep 22:12 next collapse

Is this for people that are able to transfer themselves? Because Uber WAV works just fine. Used it several times without any issues other than extended wait times due to small number of appropriate cars.

Also, I’m willing to bet real money this issue is caused by assholes claiming their chihuahuas are service animals and not by Uber drivers rejecting to drive blind people or people in wheelchairs.

ayyy@sh.itjust.works on 14 Sep 06:22 next collapse

This is an obvious shakedown because they haven’t given trump a golden trophy yet.

fox2263@lemmy.world on 14 Sep 14:49 collapse

Is this the sprinkling of good the fascists do in between all the destruction?

Or is it just a shakedown

captainlezbian@lemmy.world on 15 Sep 00:29 collapse

I think it may just be the justice department doing its job beneath the radar. I’ve had to do ADA reports before, they’re very much a bureaucratic thing