Chicago City Wire

The Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) and Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) are collaborating with Uber and Lyft to host a driver education event aimed at enhancing accessibility within ride-hail services. The event coincides with the 34th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Mayor Brandon Johnson emphasized the city's commitment to inclusivity: “We want to ensure that all Chicagoans, regardless of whether or not they have a service animal, can easily traverse our city.” He added that this initiative is part of making Chicago more accessible for people with disabilities.

The event will bring together Uber and Lyft drivers along with individuals who use service animals. The goal is to educate drivers on best practices when interacting with service animals, thereby improving the transportation experience for passengers with disabilities. Attendees will include people with disabilities who will share their experiences and demonstrate how service animals can safely travel in vehicles.

Rachel Arfa, MOPD Commissioner, stated: "At the City of Chicago, we are committed to ensuring that people with disabilities do not experience barriers to accessing our City, including when using transportation." She noted that this collaboration aligns with the priorities of the Johnson administration.

BACP Acting Commissioner Ivan Capifali highlighted the legal requirements: “By welcoming service animals in public vehicles, the City of Chicago is enhancing accessibility and ensuring a positive transportation experience for people with disabilities.”

Uber's Head of Global Accessibility and Underserved Communities, Briana Gilmore, reaffirmed Uber's dedication to inclusivity: “Our message to the service animal community is clear: we welcome you and we value your experiences.”

Brent Kent, Director of Public Policy at Lyft, acknowledged the role drivers play in supporting passengers with disabilities: “This event is just one of many ways that Lyft takes this seriously and supports both our drivers and our passengers.”

Service animals are defined as dogs trained to perform tasks for individuals with disabilities. They are allowed in public spaces under federal, state, and local laws such as the ADA and the Chicago Human Rights Ordinance. Tasks performed by service animals include guiding visually impaired individuals, alerting those who are deaf, assisting during seizures, among other duties. These animals are recognized as working partners rather than pets.