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