LEE COUNTY, Fla. -- Two legally blind women said they’ve been denied an Uber ride several times because of their service dog, which is against the law and company policy.
Both women are sharing their stories exclusively with Fox 4 to bring awareness about this issue.
Mary Pierce from Fort Myers goes to the gym 3 times a week and sometimes takes an Uber to get home.
“I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been refused by Uber,” said Pierce, who is legally blind.
Pierce goes everywhere with her service dog, C.W.
However, she said some Uber drivers see her service dog and refuse to pick her up.
“It’s stressful enough to be blind, it’s stressful enough to not be able to see and need help,” said Pierce.
She said she’s been refused at least 3 times this month.
“It makes me feel very violated,” Pierce said.
Her friend, Mary Ann Grignon is also legally blind and experienced the same thing in Cape Coral.
“It’s really sad that they think of us less than any other customer,” Grignon said. “I don’t have any other choice besides our para transit system or Uber.”
She said one time an Uber driver pulled up in front of her house but refused to let her service dog, Percy in the car.
“He said, ‘I’m not picking you up,’ and I said, ‘What are you talking about?'" Pierce explains. “And he said, ‘I don’t have to take you with that dog.’”
They both said they hear all kinds of excuses from Uber drivers.
“They just don’t want to get their car dirty or they don’t want a dog smell,” said Pierce. “It might be for religious purposes or it might be severe allergies.”
However, at the end of the day, it’s a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
On Uber’s website, it states that drivers have a legal obligation to transport riders with service animals and there are no exceptions.
Uber driver, Paul Robb said he always obeys by that policy.
“It’s disappointing because Uber’s policy is to accept service animals and I’m a dog lover so any dog can ride in my car,” Robb said.
Pierce said when it happens, she reports it.
“Normally I get a $25 credit and the Uber driver is no longer driving for Uber," said Pierce.
Fox 4 reached out to Uber. The company said every driver signs an agreement to accommodate riders with service animals and is given information on transporting people with disabilities.
Drivers who break this rule are removed from the app, permanently.
However, both women said more needs to be done to educate and train drivers on service animals.
“I just want to get where I am going as the same as anyone else,” said Grignon.
