Lyft Settlement Brings Clarity to Rights with Service Animals

In a case pursued by the Minnesota Disability Law Center of Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid, a client was repeatedly denied transportation through Lyft because of her service animal. The Minnesota college student, who is blind, reported that Lyft drivers canceled her rides when they saw her guide dog. The Minnesota Disability Law Center reported that by the end of the investigation, their client was left behind seven times on her way to medical appointments.

In addition to a financial settlement, the Minnesota Department of Human Rights will closely monitor Lyft to ensure they comply with Minnesota law granting people with disabilities the right to access transportation services with their service animals. “No one should be turned away from a ride simply because they are traveling with a service animal,” said Chad Wilson, attorney with the Minnesota Disability Law Center.

According to Minnesota law, documentation to ride with a service animal is not required, but a rider must be able to affirm that the animal is necessary due to a disability and say what task the animal is trained to perform. As part of the settlement, the company has added features to its app about accommodations for those with service animals. This will allow a rider to indicate if they have a service animal when using the app to book a ride. The Department of Human Rights will track Lyft’s compliance for the next three years to be sure the rideshare company stays up to date on its driver training and to monitor any ride denials that deal with service animals. Read more in Lyft to make sure service animals can ride with owners, after Minnesota complaint.