Uber Faces Lawsuit Over Wheelchair Access

Uber Technology Inc. (UBER.UL) faces a federal lawsuit after a Chicago-based disability rights groups filed a violation on Thursday. The Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago along with three disabled people filed the case against Uber. The case documents indicated that the company failed to comply with the “Americans with Disabilities Act”.

The three disabled people show a connection with the Chicago-based rights group, alleges the San Francisco-based company for violating wheelchair accessibility laws. The lawsuit indicates that Uber does not have the proper equipment in handling wheelchairs on their vehicles.

Since launching the ride-hailing business in 2011 Uber provided millions of rides. Out of the millions of rides, the company had just provided only a few vehicles equipped with wheelchair facility for users with a disability. The lawsuits pursue the company to strictly comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

In the case documents filed, it stated that Uber’s “service to people who require wheelchair accessible vehicles ranges from token to non-existent”. The rights group argues “That position threatens a return to the isolation and segregation that the disability rights movement has fought to overcome”.

According to court documents, Uber began its operation in September of 2011. From that year to August 2015, the company only provided 14 services of motorized wheelchair users needing wheelchair accessible vehicles. The company blog said it connected the riders with wheelchair accessible taxi services.

It was a relatively small number compared to the rides Uber provided in the past year. Uber delivered at least 5.5 million rides from April to June 2015 in Chicago, the third largest US city.

In defense of the lawsuit, Uber release a statement saying, “We take this issue seriously and are committed to increasing mobility and freedom for all riders and drivers, including those members of our communities who are disabled”.

The company recognized the need to increase disability access to their service but they claim “it won’t happen overnight”. In May, Uber launched two new additional features in their ride-hailing business, uberWAV and uberASSIST. UberWAV provides users with vehicles equipped with wheelchair ramps or lifts. Meanwhile, uberASSIST is intended for users who need additional assistance for their ride.

No available wheelchair accessible vehicles in Chicago

Uber officials held a meeting in August where they demonstrated the use of the application. They failed to show wheelchair accessible vehicles operating in Chicago at the time, according to the court documents.

It still poses a problem with the company as it continues to be the situation. The Access Disability’s lawyer, Charles Petrof said on Thursday.

Chicago’s city ordinance implies taxi operators with more than 20 taxis to sustain at least 5% for wheelchair accessible vehicles. The city gives financial incentives for these vehiclse.

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