An advocate is alleging Uber discriminates against people with disabilities
Disability rights advocate Dustin Jones filed a complaint Tuesday with New York City's Commission on Human Rights alleging that Uber discriminates against people with disabilities, BuzzFeed News reports. Jones also included video footage of a driver rejecting him because his car wasn't big enough to fit his wheelchair, which wasn't foldable.
"Uber claims to accept wheelchair accessible vehicles in its service, but provides no requirements, guidelines, incentives, or encouragements to do so,” the complaint read. "Uber partners with local dealerships to rent or lease vehicles to potential drivers, but offer no option for wheelchair accessible vehicles."
UberWAV, the ride-sharing service's wheelchair-accessible partnership in New York and other cities with cab companies, isn't enough, Jones argued.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"That's silly, frankly,” said Brian O'Dwyer, Jones' attorney. "They're going over to the yellow cab industry [to solve] their inability to provide wheelchair accessible cars. First of all, a yellow cab is not an Uber car. Second of all, calling UberWAV is a call forwarding thing from Uber to someone else. Anybody can pick up the phone themselves and get an accessible taxi. They wanted an Uber, so they're entitled to an Uber."
For its part, Uber argues the company has done a lot to give people with disabilities more transportation options. Jones and others planned to rally against the company Tuesday outside New York City Hall.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Julie Kliegman is a freelance writer based in New York. Her work has appeared in BuzzFeed, Vox, Mental Floss, Paste, the Tampa Bay Times and PolitiFact. Her cats can do somersaults.
-
7 drinks for every winter need possible
The Week Recommends Including a variety of base spirits and a range of temperatures
By Scott Hocker, The Week US Published
-
'We have made it a crime for most refugees to want the American dream'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
Was the Azerbaijan Airlines plane shot down?
Today's Big Question Multiple sources claim Russian anti-aircraft missile damaged passenger jet, leading to Christmas Day crash that killed at least 38
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditions
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billion
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on record
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homes
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creature
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published