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Massachusetts Examining Disability Access For Uber, Lyft
An anonymous reader writes: Uber and Lyft have been dealing with a host of legal and regulatory issues, and the Massachusetts attorney general's office is adding one more: disability access. No formal action has been taken, but the office has contacted the companies to see how they handle equal access. Uber says it often speaks with advocates about accessibility, and less than a week ago they introduced uberASSIST, which connects riders with drivers who are specifically trained to assist those with disabilities. Still, the inquiry seems to have been spurred by questions from disabilities rights groups, not to mention ongoing lawsuits. "[T]he National Federation of the Blind of California accused Uber in a lawsuit last year of discrimination by refusing to transport guide dogs. A San Francisco federal judge has said the case can proceed. ... In Texas, Jennifer McPhail sued Lyft last year, accusing the company of not having a wheelchair accessible vehicle operating in Austin."
Does anybody really think the state of Massachusetts actually gives a flying fuck about disabled access to Uber and Lyft?
Yes, I do. Massachusetts is very aggressive about disabled access. They put wheelchair access on EVER SINGLE BUS in the MBTA fleet. I see disabled people on the bus ALL THE TIME. The state mandates handicapped parking spaces. I see disabled people using these parking spaces ALL THE TIME.
All presented in a way of protecting the poor helpless disabled
Most of these disabled people use public transportation to COMMUTE TO THEIR JOBS. With public transportation they are NOT poor and helpless, they are active contributing members of the community. Take away public transportation and THEN they become useless.