Uber called out over $35 response to 'unacceptable' act: 'It's a problem'
Victoria woman Paula Hobley, who is blind, said that between March 2021 and November 2022, she was rejected by dozens of drivers on the platform, who took issue with her guide dog. Speaking to Yahoo News, Hobley shared the deep emotional toll the ordeal took on her mental health and urged others who have experienced the same to come forward.
Hobley is now suing Uber in the Federal Court, claiming drivers broke disability discrimination laws by refusing to pick her up. "It's made me extremely frustrated and angry," Hobley told Yahoo. "And, it's limited the things that I do because I weigh up the costs of the stress of the refusals, against the benefit of doing the activity.
"It means there are times I don't attend appointments that I would benefit from or resort to doing things online that would be better to do in person."
Hobley claimed she repeatedly reported the refusals to Uber — but the pattern continued. She said it's now made her wary of travelling at night, over fears for her safety should she be left stranded alone.
Heavily reliant on taxis and Ubers, Hobley said a trip that would take her just 10 minutes in a car would comparatively last over an hour on public transport. When she raised the issue with Uber, she was offered a shocking $35 in compensation.
"Uber often provided me with $35 of Uber cash per cancellation — sometimes there were more than one cancellation on a day — and [only] sometimes they refunded me," she said.
"Their written responses outlined that the Uber drivers I complained about wouldn't be able to drive for Uber again until they completed some retraining. But they wouldn't give me specifics regarding the outcome for individual drivers."
As for the individual drivers, Hobley claimed her refusals ranged from "outright cancellations" to messages directing her to book an Uber Pet — a service with an inflated fee.
"My service dog is not a pet. She has a right to access public places and services," she said.
Hobley, represented by the Justice and Equity Centre, filed a complaint with the Australian Human Rights Commission against Uber for alleged discrimination. After unsuccessful conciliation, she made the decision to take Uber the Federal Court.
Under Australia's Disability Discrimination Act, businesses cannot deny service based on disability, including refusal due to an assistance dog. While Uber drivers can be fined for such refusals, enforcement relies on individuals lodging formal complaints.
Penalties vary by state, with Victoria's fine as low as $480.
"I now avoid going out at night if I have to rely on a rideshare or taxi service because there's a risk I won't be able to get home safely," Hobley said. "I'm not asking for special treatment — I just want drivers to do their job and Uber to enforce that. I need to be able to travel without stress and considerable pre-planning, just like most people do.
"This is a right, not a privilege."
Jonathon Hunyor, lawyer and CEO of the Justice and Equity Centre said Uber makes massive profits, and should be held accountable. In the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024, Uber reported a global net income of US$9.86 billion, a significant increase from the previous year's net income of US$1.89 billion.
"Uber is a massive international company making significant profits from providing a service in Australia. It has a responsibility to ensure its service complies with Australian laws," he said.
"The law in Australia is clear: A business providing a service cannot discriminate against a person with a disability. This sort of repeated conduct by Uber's drivers shows it's a problem the company needs to fix. Uber needs to ensure that people with disability can use its service like everyone else."
'Horrible' reality millions face every time they board a flight
Frustrated wheelchair user unleashes over 'inconsiderate' act
Aussie business apologises for 'outrageous' video mocking disabilities
Hobley now is calling for other Australians with disabilities who may have experienced the same thing to come forward and join together in fighting back.
"If this is happening to me, it's happening to people with other kinds of assistance dogs too," she lamented. "It shouldn't be up to people with disability to have to make complaints after they are discriminated against.
"There is power in making complaints. If we band together and make complaints it sends a clear message to government and companies like Uber that this behaviour is unacceptable and won't be tolerated."
Yahoo News Australia contacted Uber with regard to Hobley's claims. A spokesperson told us that the distress of being refused service because of an assistance animal "is not something we take lightly".
"We have strong policies, tools and driver education modules in place to ensure drivers understand their legal obligation to provide service to riders with assistance animals," the spokesperson said.
Uber stated it is committed to preventing service refusals and works with industry experts like Vision Australia to improve its policies. Drivers must comply with laws regarding assistance animals and receive training upon signup, with ongoing education. A first refusal requires passing a knowledge check to continue driving, while a second results in permanent removal from the platform.
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
These are the cities where an Uber ride is going to cost you the most
Taking Ubers is getting expensive across the nation but a half-hour ride in certain states and cities is going to do far more damage to your wallet than in others, according to a new analysis. Net Credit collected the average price of a 30-minute ride in an Uber in locations across the U.S., and found ride-share passengers in Washington state are paying the most, with a half-hour drive costing on average $53.46. On the other side of the list is Indiana, where the average half-hour ride in an Uber will cost around $30.35. Other states with less expensive rides include Texas at $30.96, Utah at $30.71, and Oklahoma at $31.54. But a ride in plenty of other states is going to cost upwards of $40. The average price of a half-hour Uber ride in California, Oregon, Wyoming, Montana, Louisiana, Alabama, Delaware, New Jersey, and New York are all at least $40, and rides in several other states — South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Arkansas, and Nevada — will cost just under that mark. When it comes to individual cities, Seattle tops the list as the most expensive city for a half-hour Uber ride. In Seattle a half-hour ride costs almost $60, according to the analysis. The nine next most expensive cities for Ubers aren't necessarily each the sprawling, wildly expensive, cities one might expect. Those are Cheyenne, Reno, New York City, San Diego, Baton Rouge, Newark, Anchorage, San Jose, and Portland. The cheapest overall city for Uber for a half-hour ride is Indianapolis where it'll cost around $28.33. Following Indianapolis, the most affordable cities for taking an Uber are Fort Worth, Tucson, Mesa, Omaha, Miami, Oklahoma City, Raleigh, Houston, and Memphis. According to Net Credit, the price of Uber rides increased by 7.2 percent across the country in 2024. Net Credit noted that part of what may be driving down prices in Indianapolis is the appearance of a competitor, inDrive, which allows riders to propose a price for their ride, and drivers can counter-bid for a higher fee. 'We're giving both the driver and passenger the freedom to kind of choose their own adventure," Adam Warner, the company's head of U.S. operations, told Net Credit. 'So you get to select the driver. Are you willing to wait 10 minutes for this person to pick you up in a Tesla Model Y, or are you comfortable with the Chevy Malibu that's only two minutes away to pick you up?' Net Credit also worked out which city's Uber costs were the most and least expensive relative to the average wages of its residents. The city with the most affordable Uber rides — relative to its residents' average hourly wage — is Washington, D.C., where a 30-minute trip will still cost riders 106.5 percent of their average hourly wage. Following the nation's capital, the most affordable cities for Ubering relative to residents' average hourly wages include San Jose, San Francisco, Fort Worth, Indianapolis, Stamford, Raleigh, Boston, Mesa, and Baltimore. The least affordable city was determined to be Cheyenne, Wyoming, where a ride is 224 percent of a resident's average hourly wage. Reno, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Jackson, Seattle, Fresno, Las Vegas, Augusta, and Buffalo made up the rest of the list.
Car and Driver
10 hours ago
- Car and Driver
Cadillac Keeping Apple Carplay/Android Auto for Foreign Markets, Not U.S.
Cadillac is reportedly offering Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on its electric-vehicle lineup in other countries. Specifically, Cadillac EVs sold in Australia and New Zealand will be equipped with the software, according to the Australian outlet Car Expert. Apart from the Cadillac Lyriq, which debuted before GM shifted away from phone mirroring, Cadillac's EV lineup misses out on the technology. When it comes to track cars, weekend cars, or maybe even your daily commute, we get it, phone mirroring isn't necessary. But after you've used phone mirroring in your car on one road trip or to find a route that skips seriously backed-up traffic, it's hard to go back. Despite widespread adoption, General Motors—and by extension, Cadillac— has announced a plan to sell its entire electric vehicle portfolio without Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. That plan may be shifting slightly, as a new report from the Australian outlet Car Expert confirmed that Cadillac's entire EV portfolio for Australia and New Zealand will be equipped with the technology. View Gallery Michael Simari | Car and Driver "All Cadillac Lyriq, Lyriq-V, Vistiq, and Optiq vehicles coming to Australia and New Zealand will offer Cadillac Connected Services as well as wireless smartphone projection, which is currently available in Lyriq models (i.e., Apple CarPlay and Android Auto)," a GM spokesperson told the outlet. View Gallery Cadillac In a statement to Car and Driver, Cadillac was not forthcoming about whether or not the change in course for Australia and New Zealand would have any impact on the North American market. "The features available in our infotainment systems vary by region based on local network capabilities and OnStar service availability," a Cadillac spokesperson told C/D. "Ultimately, we're working toward a consistent global platform that will offer integrated native features, including entertainment, charging, navigation, and voice commands. In Australia and New Zealand, phone projection is currently available in select vehicles." As things stand in the U.S., the only electric Cadillac equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is the Lyriq, which made its debut ahead of GM's announcement. The news also raises questions about how Cadillac will proceed in Europe, where the automaker is currently pushing for an increased presence. Jack Fitzgerald Associate News Editor Jack Fitzgerald's love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1. After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn't afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf. Read full bio
Chicago Tribune
11 hours ago
- Chicago Tribune
These flying taxi companies want to soar over gridlock — for the cost of an Uber
DETROIT — On a recent morning downtown, Eric Allison hopped into the backseat of a sleek six-propeller air taxi and began to explain his company's vision for the future of transportation. Imagine pulling up your Uber app, said Allison, the chief product officer for Joby Aviation, and ticking a 'Joby' option. A car soon arrives and shuttles you to a nearby vertiport. A few other rideshare folks are waiting there, too, and four of you pile into the eVTOL, short for electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, along with a pilot. The 20-mile or so journey over a gridlocked city — perhaps to an airport, where you'll catch a flight — is quiet and quick, as the aircraft takes off like a helicopter before transitioning to airplane mode. After touching down, it's a short walk to your gate. The cost of this convenience, potentially shaving hours of travel time, is expected to be a fraction of the cost of a helicopter ride today. Allison said the aim is for prices on par with Uber Black, the luxury vehicle pickup service. 'The advantage of this is you get the speed, and efficiency, and quietness of an airplane, and you get the kind of runway-dependence flexibility of a helicopter,' said Allison, a former Uber executive and NASA aeronautics adviser. 'Both of these are really important for going after this air taxi market that we're designing this for.' eVTOLs are finally nearing commercial reality — at least in certain restricted environments. The Joby five-seater that was tucked away behind the new Hudson's Detroit complex earlier this month for a gathering of tech, manufacturing and defense executives was just a display model. But other aircraft from the Santa Cruz, California-based company are undergoing rigorous testing. The company recently completed its first transition flights with a pilot onboard, and hopes to transport passengers next year in Dubai. Archer Aviation, another California-based electric air taxi startup at a similar stage as Joby, also attended the Reindustrialize summit. CEO Adam Goldstein said on stage that his firm aims to sell its first aircraft for use in Abu Dhabi later this year, though he acknowledged passenger rides wouldn't occur right away. Archer is also a partner for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where the company hopes to fly dignitaries and athletes around the city. 'The core concept was always, 'Where are my flying cars?'' Goldstein said. 'And the goal is to bring that dream to reality this year.' Yet there remain major hurdles to overcome for the fledgling industry — which already has watched several well-funded startups go belly-up — before air taxis are crisscrossing major cities. On the technology side, eVTOL companies are working to improve their lithium-ion batteries, given the huge power requirements necessary for an aircraft to hover, said Blake Stringer, who directs Ohio State University's Center for Aviation Studies. A number of challenges have little to do with the aircraft designs themselves, according to the mechanical and aerospace professor who has studied eVTOLs for years. More real-world testing is needed to better understand the vehicles' limits around things like heat or fog, and heavy air traffic. Costly ground infrastructure will need to be installed, like chargers and vertiports, with logistical plans developed for quick turnaround times. Air traffic control systems for air taxis will need to be established. Stringer said this new type of aircraft won't be able to rely on the existing federal air traffic control system, which is already overburdened and grappling with several accidents and close calls this year. Finally, he said, a new crop of pilots and maintenance workers must be recruited to keep fleets of eVTOLs humming. 'I would predict we're at least five years away from seeing these in routine operations, in large urban areas,' Stringer said. For the industry to really take off around the country, he added, a large infusion of government support will likely be needed. Policymakers and regulators do appear to be increasingly focused on eVTOLs. The FAA is working through a years-long process of design, production, and operational certifications with companies including Joby and Archer to ensure the new types of aircraft are safe to carry people. President Donald Trump last month signed an executive order creating a pilot program for testing 'flying cars,' a development that Goldstein said could help accelerate the approval process. 'It signaled to the FAA that this is a clear priority from the administration,' Goldstein said in an interview. 'The FAA has to decide which programs to work on — they have limited resources, and so it gives them the ability to focus on this. It also gives everybody else, all the partners, the trust that this industry is coming.' Michigan hopes to be a player in the growing drone and eVTOL industry. As Reindustrialize was going on, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a directive creating the Advanced Air Mobility Initiative, which is supposed to help the state grow its expertise in drones and eVTOLs. Among the initial projects funded: $1 million for the University of Michigan to create something called M-Air, which will include a 40-mile research skyway between the Ann Arbor campus and Detroit's Michigan Central Station to test drones and other electric aircraft. In a statement, Whitmer described an intense global competition heating up to develop better aviation and autonomous aircraft, and said Michigan could 'lead the way' for the United States. Air taxi vertiports are likely to be positioned around large cities, executives said, allowing faster trips to the airport or other local destinations. eVTOLs, as their range improves, could eventually serve as transportation between cities — in some instances, potentially adding new routes that wouldn't otherwise be profitable for traditional airlines, said Stringer, the Ohio State professor. But eVTOL companies are also increasingly focused on developing versions of the aircraft for the military. Joby CEO JoeBen Bevirt said his company has been investing heavily in autonomous versions of its aircraft that are powered by a hydrogen-electric system that could stay in the air longer in a war zone. 'We think this is game-changing, being able to build autonomous aircraft that have unprecedented range and endurance, and we think this is critical to national security and defense as we look into the future,' Bevirt said on a panel at Reindustrialize. Archer is similarly developing a hybrid version of its Midnight aircraft and has partnered with defense firm Anduril Industries, which specializes in autonomous military systems. 'In the first innings of this industry, the defense side will be substantially larger,' Goldstein said. 'If you look at the first 10 years, and you look at the amount of aircraft that will need to be built … for the West and its allies, it should be quite a large number of aircraft, and so it could end up being bigger than the civil side. But time will tell.' Joby and Archer have inked partnerships with airlines and ride-hailing services, with the idea that an air taxi ride could eventually be packaged with other modes of transportation that could be booked in an app. Major car companies are also involved: Toyota Motor Corp. in the case of Joby and Stellantis NV with Archer. Both automakers have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in the respective eVTOL companies and are providing hands-on support as they set up manufacturing facilities, executives said. Joby announced this month that it was doubling its aircraft production capacity at a plant in Marina, California, as it looks to build more aircraft for flight tests. It has several other manufacturing facilities, including one in Dayton, Ohio, a refurbished former postal facility that will soon manufacture and test parts, and eventually churn out as many as hundreds of aircraft per year. Archer late last year completed building a 400,000-square-foot factory in Covington, Georgia, and Goldstein said it has started making initial test versions of aircraft. For the Archer CEO, a key junction for his company and the industry's progress, in general, will be the Los Angeles Olympics in three years. Will the company's Midnight aircraft be zipping between venues, skipping over the city's notoriously hellish traffic, on a televised world stage? 'It acts as like a milestone for everybody,' Goldstein said. 'Everybody wants this to happen. … Maybe the helicopter operators don't want this to happen, but everybody else wants this to happen. So the Olympics is a really good way to show that America leads in aviation, that America is building a whole new industry, which will create a lot of jobs.'
