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| Uber accused of discriminating against people with disabilities |
Uber discriminates against people with disabilities by charging them a "waiting" fee when they get in a car, according to a recent US Department of Justice lawsuit against ride-sharing companies.
The additional cost will harm many current and potential disabled passengers across the country, the department said.
The lawsuit alleges that Uber violated Chapter 3 of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Among them, discrimination by private carriers is prohibited.
According to the US Department of Justice, Uber began charging fees for waiting time in several cities in April 2016. This extends the guideline nationwide.
Uber will miss passengers two minutes after they arrive at the train station and before the car starts driving.
Compared to non-disabled passengers, disabled passengers (eg wheelchair users) need more time to get on the bus.
“People with disabilities should have equal access to all areas of community life, including private transportation services provided by companies like Uber,” Kristen Clark, assistant attorney general for the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, said in a statement.
"The purpose of the suit is to send a message that Uber cannot penalize disabled passengers simply because they need more time to get on the bus," she added.
Wheelchair users struggle with Uber
Uber spokesman Matt Kallman said the lawsuit was surprising and confusing as the company hopes to work with the Department of Justice to resolve confusion over waiting time costs.
We fundamentally disagree that our policy violates the ADA, Kalman said. We will continue to improve our products to make it easier for everyone to find their way in their community.
He stated that the company's policy is to compensate disabled passengers for waiting time fees if they notify the company of their bills. Kalman said the company recently changed its policy to automatically abstain from all passengers deemed disabled.
Despite these changes, the company has a particularly poor track record of providing services to passengers with disabilities.
The company was sued by disability officers in 2017. He is accused of denying wheelchair users equal access and violating the ADA.
Uber is also facing civil lawsuits over its poor performance in providing services to customers with disabilities. A lawsuit filed in 2019 alleges that the company failed to ensure that people who use wheelchairs receive equal services from the company.
Apparently, the federal lawsuit increased Uber's legal risks. The Ministry of Justice is not only demanding financial compensation for the travelers concerned. But you also want a court order obligating the company to comply with the ADA.