Lyft—Persistent service animal discrimination despite 2017 settlement, with 83% reporting denials
Despite 2017 settlement with National Federation of the Blind that launched new service animal policy and hotline, discrimination continues with DOJ now investigating. Survey by Guide Dogs for the Blind in May 2024 found 83% of respondents experienced rideshare denials. Notable case: former U.S. Circuit Court Judge David Tatel, who is blind, was denied Lyft ride to court when driver refused his guide dog. Individual lawsuit filed in 2024 cited five instances where drivers canceled rides after seeing service dog or being notified of its presence. Years-long issue has caught attention of U.S. Department of Justice, which is sharing data with national nonprofits.
Scoring Impact
| Topic | Direction | Relevance | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accessibility | -against | primary | -1.00 |
| Consumer Protection | -against | secondary | -0.50 |
| Overall incident score = | -0.322 | ||
Score = avg(topic contributions) × significance (high ×1.5) × confidence (0.57)× agency (negligent ×0.5)
Evidence (1 signal)
Survey found 83% of guide dog users experienced rideshare denials
Survey released May 2024 by Guide Dogs for the Blind found 83% of respondents experienced rideshare denials. DOJ now investigating years-long issue. Notable case: former U.S. Circuit Court Judge David Tatel, who is blind, was denied Lyft ride to court when driver refused his guide dog. Individual lawsuit in 2024 cited five instances of canceled rides after driver saw service dog.