Lyft is working on a ‘service animal opt-in feature’ for passengers

Uber and Lyft need to do more to support disabled passengers, especially those who are blind or visually impaired, according to protesters who gathered outside the companies’ headquarters on October 15.

Wired spoke to protesters who shared stories about drivers passing them by or refusing to let them bring their guide dogs on a ride. They said ride-hailing companies should do more to educate drivers on accommodating passengers with visual impairments, and should exercise a “zero-tolerance” policy for discriminatory drivers.

A Lyft spokesperson said, “We strive to provide an inclusive and accessible platform for riders, including those who rely on service animals.” They said the company is “working directly with advocacy organizations in the community” and also pointed to an upcoming “service animal opt-in feature” that should launch by 2025.

The company mentioned the feature earlier this month in a profile of a new product manager, Shreya Shankar, who said this will allow riders to “declare that they have a service animal” (they’ll only need to do this once), so the driver will be notified before pickup.

“That way there shouldn’t be any surprises — or confusion or frustration from getting stranded,” Shankar said.