Lack of Accessible Ubers

In May, I was out to dinner with my girlfriend Suzanne and a few of my old colleagues. After dinner, Suzanne wanted to go to Homegoods to look at some sectional rugs for our condo. We looked around Homegoods and didn’t find anything to buy. In the same shopping center is a grocery store. It’s at the other end of the shopping center, so I usually wheel down in my chair and Suzanne drives the van over. It was a cool rainy night. May is a funny month in Pennsylvania. One day it can be 86 and feel like summer, and the next day it can be in the 50’s and feel like fall.

The van wouldn't start

I quickly roll down to the grocery store and zip inside to wait for Suzanne. After a few minutes, she called me. The van won’t start. So I wheel back to the other side of the shopping center and meet her at the van. The battery was ok because the ramp was working, as were the lights and dashboard. The car just wouldn’t start.

I called AAA and a tow truck driver came out within a short period of time. He thought it might be the starter. He popped the hood and tried tinkering, but nothing happened. So we had it towed to our mechanic.

No wheelchair-accessible Uber available

It’s now about 9:30 at night with heavy rain and temperatures in the low 50’s. We head over to the grocery store and I try and secure a Wheelchair Accessible Uber. There are none available in my area. I live in an average size town but I am about an hour outside of Philadelphia. I decided to call the local police station and ask if there are any county resources available for my situation. They dispatched an officer over to me.

A younger officer shows up and pulls out his phone and asks if we have tried Uber. I laughed and said yes; I tried twice but unfortunately there are no accessible Ubers in our area at this time. He climbs back in his cruiser and tries to find some resources for me. After a few minutes he says unfortunately there are none available. So I looked at my girlfriend and said I guess we are walking home in the cold rain. The officer asked how far away we were and I replied luckily only about 2 miles but I was hoping to avoid walking in a downpour.

Wheeling home instead

The officer was concerned about the conditions because it was dark so he said I will follow you home so you don’t get hit. Suzanne and were laughing because I said this must be a sight. A police cruiser following a guy in a wheelchair in the pouring rain. I wonder what people were thinking when they passed by.

Needless to say we made it home safely. We were just soaked and cold. But it brought up a need for better transportation needs for people in wheelchairs. I will be making some phone calls to local officials in hopes to remedy this situation. If you have had any luck with adding wheelchair accessible transportation in your area I would appreciate any advice.