Disabled SCANDAL – Famous Company Faces Dangerous New Problem
(NewsReady.com) – In 2020, Lyft settled a lawsuit with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and four people over allegations it violated the rights of disability groups. The ride-share company agreed to pay thousands in damages. Just two years later, disabled people are still fighting accessibility issues.
Since 2017, Lyft has been fighting a class-action suit from Westchester Disabled on the Move Inc (WDOMI), a disability rights group. According to the lawsuit, the company has agreed to make wheelchair-accessible vehicles (WAVs) available to customers with foldable chairs, but those with motorized ones are out of luck in states where it isn’t required by law.
The plaintiffs in the class-action suit aren’t asking for money. Instead, they want the company to allow drivers to categorize their vehicles as WAVs. They also want it to remove the app blockers that prevent disabled people from selecting the accessible ride option in states where access isn’t required.
Lyft argues it's not subject to ADA regulations that would require it to ensure the availability of wheelchair accessible vehicles because it is a technology company, not a transportation business, per court filings obtained exclusively by NBC News.https://t.co/BTgGPnUes7
— Brian Kosciesza (he/him) (@BrianKosh) August 23, 2022
Lyft argues it’s exempt from the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). According to NBC News, the company argues it doesn’t have to comply with the law because it is a private technology company, specifically, one that isn’t in the transportation business and is not a public accommodation. Experts aren’t buying that explanation, and say its legal team is misinterpreting the law.
What do you think? Should the courts hold Lyft to the same standards as other transportation companies?
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