NEW YORK, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- U.S. disabled people who use rideshare apps Lyft and Uber have watched drivers cancel rides, charge cleaning fees for guide dogs or outright refuse to take them where they need to go, reported The Associated Press (AP) on Friday.
"The rideshare companies plan to push app updates soon to address cancellations and misunderstandings, but advocates and disabled users say they want to see drivers be better educated about how to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and want the companies to put in stricter discrimination policies," said the report.
Uber and Lyft have been the target of past federal lawsuits that allege they didn't follow ADA laws. While rideshare apps aren't the only option for disabled people across the United States, the disabled community relies on rideshare more than others, according to 2022 U.S. Bureau of Transportation statistics.
Uber and Lyft said their disability policies include following the ADA and not denying rides to people solely because they have a guide dog. The companies also said new drivers are made aware of the policies during onboarding, and that established drivers get occasional reminders of disability policies. If drivers wrongfully decline to accommodate riders because of a service animal, they face a potential ban.
