Disabled people experience discrimination daily, but it gets even more frustrating when they can’t get access to basic services. Many disabled people have service animals to help them through their daily activities.
Unfortunately, other service providers don’t make life easier for them, as they act based on personal prejudice. A TikTok user, @the_windy_alien , called out Uber after its drivers canceled her ride thrice due to discrimination against her service animal.
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Fellow TikTok users shared their experiences, while a few Uber drivers apologized for the user’s experience.
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Kai Shares Her Story Via TikTok
The First Three Drivers Canceled The Trip
The TikTok user, Kai & Kaze, started her video by asking her followers to guess how many Uber drivers she could run through before getting a ride. No one would’ve guessed four, but that’s what happened.
She shared screenshots of her conversations with the drivers in the chat box, showing them rejecting her offer once they realized she had a dog. It didn’t help when Kai explained that the animal was a service dog, not a pet (not that it should matter much).
The first rider canceled immediately after they read that she had a service dog. The next person did the same, while the third chat was more detailed.
It Took Four Drivers To Get A Ride
Kai explained to rider number three that she had a service animal and was exhausted from a full day’s work. She also told the rider that three other drivers canceled her ride and she’d reported them to Uber, but they replied saying, “I can’t take animals, I’m sorry.”
Kai emphasized that Uber’s policy accommodates service dogs as they’re not pets. The person still canceled until number four arrived, and Kai called him “lucky number four” because he was the only one to accept her ride.
TikTokers Sympathize With Kai
Fellow TikTok users shared their experiences with some who are Uber drivers saying they accepted service dogs. Others explained that Lyft was better at accepting animal rides than Uber.
Someone also explained that discrimination against pets was unfair as they sometimes needed to visit the veterinarian. Another Uber driver explained that he’s allergic to dogs, so he rejects rides, including them, not from discrimination but preventive healthcare measures.
What’s Uber’s Policy?
Uber’s non-discriminatory policy , following Federal and State Laws, prohibits Uber drivers from denying rides to people with service animals, and drivers in violation will lose their ability to use the Driver App.
Also, Uber describes a service animal as an animal “trained to work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability.”
Riders also have the right to report a service animal complaint via the option on the rider app.
