On October 10, Uber announced a new pilot program designed to improve accessibility to rideshare services for riders with service animals. In the coming weeks, Uber will begin testing a voluntary self-identification option with a group of volunteers in the U.S. and Canada.
This new feature will allow riders with service animals to automatically notify drivers ahead of time that they are travelling with a service animal, streamlining communication and reducing the need for riders to send messages before their trip.
The pilot program is aimed at enhancing the ease and reliability of trips for service animal handlers. Uber looks forward to receiving feedback from the test group to refine this feature and better support the needs of riders with service animals.
In conjunction with the pilot, Uber is also expanding its efforts to educate drivers about service animals. Starting this month, all drivers in the U.S. will receive access to a new service animal education video, developed in partnership with leading blind and service animal advocacy organizations. The video covers the critical role of service animals, best practices for transporting them, and reiterates that denying service to riders because of their service animal is against Uber’s policy and illegal.
Uber remains committed to fostering inclusion and improving the experience for riders with disabilities. "We are grateful to our partners in the disability and service animal communities for their continued advocacy and contributions," the company stated.
There are approximately 500,000 service dogs in the U.S. assisting individuals with disabilities, including physical disabilities, hearing impairments, and vision impairments.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), around 44% of Texas households own a dog. Austin consistently ranks as one of the most dog-friendly cities in the U.S. due to its many dog parks, pet-friendly restaurants, and events like Dogtoberfest and Austin Pet Expo.