I hope Access-A-Ride is paying close attention. Yesterday I got stuck with an Uber car instead of my usual Access-A-Ride vehicle. Why? Because it seems Access-A-Ride is experimenting with Uber as an alternative way to transport individuals with serious medical issues.
- In response to those who believe Uber, who uses 'contractors' to provide service, should not be held responsible/to the same standards that other private enterprises should don't know the law.
Under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (Public Accommodations), transportation services guidelines are cited in 28 CFR, Part 36, Subpart C - Specific Requirements, 36.310 Transportation provided by public accommodation. (https://www.ada.gov/regs2010/titleIII_2010/titleIII_2010_regulations.htm...
As noted in the article: "...Today, there are 1,859 yellow taxis and 655 green taxis, which primarily serve northern Manhattan and the other boroughs, that are wheelchair accessible. Last week, the city’s Taxi and Limousine Commission proposed broad new requirements for wheelchair-accessible service for the entire for-hire industry, which would include Uber and the other ride-hail companies. These requirements, which will be reviewed at a public hearing in September, would have to be approved by the commission’s board before they could go into effect...
...Still, it is not enough for some riders with disabilities and their advocates. Ms. Joseph, who lives in Queens and works in Brooklyn, said she had friends and colleagues who had tried to hail an Uber car, only to find long wait times if the car arrived at all..."
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Would this be more important to those who dismiss it if it were race-related?
Under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (Public Accommodations), transportation services guidelines are cited in 28 CFR, Part 36, Subpart C - Specific Requirements, 36.310 Transportation provided by public accommodation. (https://www.ada.gov/regs2010/titleIII_2010/titleIII_2010_regulations.htm...
As noted in the article: "...Today, there are 1,859 yellow taxis and 655 green taxis, which primarily serve northern Manhattan and the other boroughs, that are wheelchair accessible. Last week, the city’s Taxi and Limousine Commission proposed broad new requirements for wheelchair-accessible service for the entire for-hire industry, which would include Uber and the other ride-hail companies. These requirements, which will be reviewed at a public hearing in September, would have to be approved by the commission’s board before they could go into effect...
...Still, it is not enough for some riders with disabilities and their advocates. Ms. Joseph, who lives in Queens and works in Brooklyn, said she had friends and colleagues who had tried to hail an Uber car, only to find long wait times if the car arrived at all..."
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Would this be more important to those who dismiss it if it were race-related?
3
Wow, another way to go after Uber. I cannot remember seeing any yellow cabs with lifts or ramps. Seriously. People use their own vehicles. I do not know why anyone would want to do business in New York if this is how they are treated.
1
Psst... Dawn, READ:
"...Today, there are 1,859 yellow taxis and 655 green taxis, which primarily serve northern Manhattan and the other boroughs, THAT ARE WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE. Last week, the city’s Taxi and Limousine Commission proposed broad new requirements for WHEELCHAIR-ACCESSIBLE service for the entire for-hire industry, which would include Uber and the other ride-hail companies. These requirements, which will be reviewed at a public hearing in September, would have to be approved by the commission’s board before they could go into effect...."
"...Today, there are 1,859 yellow taxis and 655 green taxis, which primarily serve northern Manhattan and the other boroughs, THAT ARE WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE. Last week, the city’s Taxi and Limousine Commission proposed broad new requirements for WHEELCHAIR-ACCESSIBLE service for the entire for-hire industry, which would include Uber and the other ride-hail companies. These requirements, which will be reviewed at a public hearing in September, would have to be approved by the commission’s board before they could go into effect...."
1
Is Access-A-Ride still in operation?
1
Americans are becoming used to the idea that they are entitled to things, even when they are not.
Bringing a lawsuit means you think you are entitled to something and the other side refuses to give it to you.
I do not see why anyone should think that Uber owes them anything.
Another example of the United States going straight downhill.
Bringing a lawsuit means you think you are entitled to something and the other side refuses to give it to you.
I do not see why anyone should think that Uber owes them anything.
Another example of the United States going straight downhill.
7
g -
People with disabilities (wheelchair users in this case) are a protected class; see my comment above to learn how the law applies in this instance.
While Uber relies on 'Contractors' to provide a ride-hailing service, company profits allow for them to purchase accessible vehicles to meet proportional demands no different than the requirement of accessible parking spaces for a parking lot based on Census based geographical areas. Common sense, no?
People with disabilities (wheelchair users in this case) are a protected class; see my comment above to learn how the law applies in this instance.
While Uber relies on 'Contractors' to provide a ride-hailing service, company profits allow for them to purchase accessible vehicles to meet proportional demands no different than the requirement of accessible parking spaces for a parking lot based on Census based geographical areas. Common sense, no?
1
"...It follows two other discrimination lawsuits involving HANDICAPPED travelers filed this year against the Metropolitan Transportation Authority over the scarcity of elevators and electric lifts in the subway system..."
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At 10:35A CDT, I called The Times Complaint/Correction line about the use of the word "HANDICAPPED" in the article being grossly offensive and inappropriate.
Come on...
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At 10:35A CDT, I called The Times Complaint/Correction line about the use of the word "HANDICAPPED" in the article being grossly offensive and inappropriate.
Come on...
Disabled and wheelchair user are not synonymous. As the NYT itself has pointed out in is column on disabilities , there are a myriad ways of being actually or legally disabled. Disabled users can be blind, deaf, or have difficulty breathing, be cancer or diabetes patients on their way to treatment, be arthritic and using a cane or merely slow and unsteady, or be autistic, or disoriented easily. For all these and many more Uber and Lyft are a godsend. They make it much easier for the elderly and frail to move about without being crushed and slammed on public transit. Their access should not be destroyed.
5
I don't live in NY but as a disabled person I do know how expensive it is to make the modifications to the vehicles. I have a van that was modified for my wheelchair and the cost can be upward of $30 -40,000 for a safe conversion.
I do feel for the people that need reliable transportation but it's unrealistic to expect Uber to try to meet all of the demands.
I do feel for the people that need reliable transportation but it's unrealistic to expect Uber to try to meet all of the demands.
7
This is idiotic.
While I sympathize with people who do not have access to as many Uber cars as they would like, there are other alternatives, and Uber should not be required to meet the needs of everyone.
Some people require Gluten free food; it would be absurd to require every restaurant to provide gluten free food. That is also true of vegetarian food, kosher food, halal food.
This is not fundamentally different (yes, I get the point that those food restrictions may be *choices* and are not forced upon an individual the way a disability is. Still.)
While I sympathize with people who do not have access to as many Uber cars as they would like, there are other alternatives, and Uber should not be required to meet the needs of everyone.
Some people require Gluten free food; it would be absurd to require every restaurant to provide gluten free food. That is also true of vegetarian food, kosher food, halal food.
This is not fundamentally different (yes, I get the point that those food restrictions may be *choices* and are not forced upon an individual the way a disability is. Still.)
13
What other alternatives? Access-A-Ride is extremely unreliable. A few days ago a lady at my church who's in a wheelchair had her ride cancelled without notice and had to wait 2 hours for another (until 10pm). The car services we called wouldn't dispatch an accessible ride. The closest accessible Lyft was 30+ minutes away, in Midtown, while we were in Gowanus I don't use Uber so I don't know what the deal was there. Have you ever tried getting an accessible ride?
6
Access-A-Ride is not that unreliable at all. At a the cost of $2-3 per ride -- which could take you anywhere in NYC its a really great alternative. You do need to plan a day in advance with them but they are one of the best services for the price in NYC.
1
Something can be cheap and still unreliable! The stipulations with Access programs, statewide, are relatively strict - the driver can be delayed up to an hour, but if you are 5 minutes late, they are entitled to leave without you. And you say you do need to plan a day in advance like that's a minor inconvenience - can you imagine planning your entire day out the day before? If your doctor's appointment is delayed, do you leave mid appointment because your ride is there? If you are at work, how do you decide the day before exactly what time you'll finish work the next day?
This better get dropped. Uber relies on car owners as drivers and they don't have their own fleet. It's not discrimination, it's that Uber drivers are not going to outfit their personal/work vehicles for wheelchairs bc that's a financial hardship and there's really no reason why they should.
13
A flaw in Uber's already questionable business model. Perhaps they can use some of their billions to subsidize accessible vehicles for drivers.
8
Furthermore, the ADA does require that Uber meet the needs of people with disabilities! Just like restaurants and stores and buildings are required to. It's continually frustrating to me that because I use a wheelchair, people think that's it's understandable that I can't access services/buildings everyone else takes for granted.