Data shows about half of calls for wheelchair rideshares go unanswered, stranding disabled users

IS OFTEN STRANDED. >> WAITED THREE HOURS. >> SHE RECALLS THE DAY SHE DARED TO GO OUT TO A MOVIE. >> THE PEOPLE AT THE MOVIE THEATER KEPT SAYING, ARE YOU OK? >> SHE GOT TO THE MOVIES IN AN UBER WAY, A WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM, GETTING HOME. >> KEPT SAYING NO VEHICLES AVAILABLE. >> SHE WAITED WITH HER MOM IN THE LOBBY FOR HOURS, THE STAFF OFFERED HELP. >> EVERYBODY WAS WONDERING. NEVER GOT A VEHICLE. >TRYING TO GO TO WORK, MISSED WORK BECAUSE I COULD NOT GET TO WORK. >> SHE HAIRSTYLES FROM MY WHEELCHAIR. NO PROBLEM. GETTING TO THE SALON IS. >> IF I NEEDED A REGULAR UBER, I WOULD NOT HAVE THIS ISSUE. >> ALL PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE LOOKING FOR IS THE SAME ACCESS ANYBODY ELSE HAS TO PICK UP THE APP, CALL FOR A RIDE. >> SAN FRANCISCO'S TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY HAS FOUND THAT UBER AND LYFT PROVIDED WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE VEHICLES FOR LESS THAN HALF THE REQUESTS THEY RECEIVED IN 2019, WHILE THEY WERE FULFILLED NEARLY ALL REQUESTS FOR REGULAR RIDES. >> YOU CAN'T BE DISCRIMINATING AGAINST THIS POPULATION. YOU SHOULD BE SETTING TARGETS THAT ARE EQUIVALENT SERVICE, SO THAT SOMEONE REQUESTING WHEELCHAIR ACCESS DOES NOT HAVE TO WAIT THREE HOURS. >> MANY DISABLED PASSENGERS RELY ON PARATRANSIT SERVICES THAT REQUIRE RESERVATIONS AND HAVE MANY STOPS. STATE LAWMAKERS PASSED THE ACCESS FOR ALL ACT FIVE YEARS AGO. IT ALLOWS RIDESHARE COMPANIES TO ADD A SURCHARGE OF $.10 TO THE FAIR OF EVERY RIDE. COMPANIES CAN KEEP SOME OF THE MONEY IF IT IS USED TO IMPROVE DISABLED ACCESS. UBER POCKETED $14 MILLION AND LYFT $7 MILLION, BOTH SAYING THE MONEY HAS BEEN USED FOR OUTREACH TO DISABLED USERS AND TO PAY OTHERS TO FIND WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE RIDES. >> I KEPT TRYING FOR LIKE FOUR HOURS AND NEVER GOT A NEW PER. >> WHEN SHE TRIED USING LYFT INSTEAD, SHE RECEIVED THIS MESSAGE. SHE COULD GET WHEELCHAIR RIGHTS IN SAN FRANCISCO, BUT SHE LIVES IN SAN LEANDRO. A SPOKESPERSON AT UBER SAID UBER IS COMMITTED TO DEVELOPING SOLUTIONS THAT SUPPORT THE ABILITY TO EASILY MOVE AROUND OUR COMMUNITIES. >> THAT IS HORRIBLE. YOU CAN'T GET A

Channel: ABC7 News Bay Area

Views: 3,267

Keywords: news, wheelchair accessible vehicle, disabled transportation, uber, lyft, rideshares, disability accommodations, access for all, 7 on your side, 7oys, michael finney

Id: XridQaUd0Qs

Length: 3min 13sec (193 seconds)

Published: Fri Jul 14 2023