Disability News Service, Resources, Diversity, Americans with Disabilities Act; Local and National.

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

United Spinal Association challenges Uber in ad blitz over lack of Wheelchair Access



as published by the New York Daily News, article BY ERIN DURKIN | July 19, 2015

In the latest salvo in the battle over Uber, an advocacy group is hitting the company with a mailing blitz over its lack of wheelchair-accessible cars.

The United Spinal Association’s 300,000 mailers proclaim: “Uber to wheelchair users: Take a hike!” and “If Uber won’t stop for wheelchair users, maybe it’s time we stopped Uber,” expressing support for a controversial bill to sharply limit the e-hail service’s growth.
“They’re a huge new mode of transportation that’s completely off-limits to wheelchair and scooter users, and they know it and they want to keep it that way,” said Spinal Association CEO Jim Weisman. He said Uber’s growth is undermining a deal to make 50% of yellow cabs wheelchair accessible by 2020.
The City Council could vote this week on a bill to limit the growth of for hire fleets like Uber to 1% in a year, which prompted Uber to launch TV ads blasting Mayor de Blasio and to install a “de Blasio” section on its app warning of long waits.

Uber says it is possible to use its app to get an accessible vehicle through the UberWAV service, which will summon a green taxi.
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/uber-ripped-ad-blitz-wheelchair-access-article-1.2297262

No comments: