Wheelchair Travel Newsletter: Music City, Lyft Trial Concludes and a Hotel Closure
Wheelchair Travel Newsletter: Music City, Lyft Trial Concludes and a Hotel Closure
Arguments concluded in the class action lawsuit vs. Lyft, plus the world's (formerly) largest hotel has closed its doors after a magnificent run.
Hey, everyone!
A lot has happened in the world since the last edition of this newsletter, and I must admit that I have a heavy heart — violence has no place in our political discourse and I hope, as many of us surely do, that we will enjoy peace and prosperity regardless of who our political leaders are.
Now, let’s talk about accessible travel!
Music City is still a great place to visit, but transportation barriers persist
One of the most popular destinations in America, and one of my favorite cities to visit, has long been Nashville, Tennessee — known for its bars brimming with live music, the Country Music Hall of Fame, universities like Vanderbilt and Tennessee State, and the Grand Ole Opry, it’s an amazing city to visit and one that I have lauded in the Nashville, Tennessee Wheelchair Accessible Travel Guide.
About two weeks ago, I traveled to Nashville for the weekend — my first visit to the city since the Covid-19 pandemic. I was happy to be back, and joined several of my college buddies to celebrate their summer birthdays.
Having previously had poor experiences with wheelchair taxis in Nashville (including being stranded overnight outside the Grand Ole Opry after a wheelchair taxi driver refused to pick me up unless I paid more than five times the standard fare), I hoped this trip would be better.
When I turned up at the airport taxi stand, the attendant placed a call and I was united with a rear-entry wheelchair taxi in about 10 minutes. “This is great,” I thought, as the driver secured my wheelchair with four tie-downs.
Despite a quick and efficient ride, the experience turned sour upon arrival at my hotel, when the taxi driver demanded $65 — nearly double the flat rate fare set by the city. Citing my knowledge of the approved meter rates, I protested, and the driver made the mistake of saying “but a wheelchair is not the same as a regular taxi.”
That incensed me because, according to the Americans with Disabilities Act, a wheelchair taxi is no different from a standard taxi. He was not a non-emergency medical transportation provider, but a taxi that I hailed from the airport taxi stand — one licensed by the city and subject to the taxi approved meter rates. Drivers are prohibited from assessing a surcharge on disabled riders.
Though I was ultimately charged the flat rate of $35, I made it clear to the driver that he was a horrible person preying on disabled people. I have drafted a complaint to be filed with the city, and will submit it later today with the recommendation that his taxi license be revoked. The state of accessible ground transportation in this country is unacceptable, but it is made worse by those who take advantage of disabled people who need rides.
As for my other experiences with wheelchair taxis during this Nashville trip, well, there were none. No operator in the city was able to fulfill my requests for a ride. The dispatcher at Yellow Cab said “we haven’t had a wheelchair taxi in 7 years,” while the dispatcher for Checker Cab and Music City Taxi told me that reservations are required TWO WEEKS in advance! Calls to other cab companies went unanswered.
The state of affairs in Nashville reminded me of an article I wrote last year, entitled This Photo is Evidence That We Need to Revisit Wheelchair Taxi Regulations. It’s terrible out there, and it’s time we shift our focus to local governments who allow accessible transportation deserts to arise and disability discrimination to persist. If your hometown lacks sufficient ADA taxi service, I encourage you to attend city council meetings and write to local government officials — the ADA has not solved the problem of transportation inequity, but city governments can mandate equal access for disabled people.
Lyft Trial Concludes, Verdict Weighs on Judge
Arguments in the class action lawsuit brought by disabled people against rideshare operator Lyft concluded last week in New York, and the judge shared some of his own thoughts before adjournment.
Judge Philip M. Halpern of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York remarked that it is a “shame” that a company like Lyft cannot find a reasonable way to serve wheelchair users across the United States. He appeared disappointed that a matter of accessibility for disabled people could not be resolved outside of his courtroom.
The plaintiffs and defense will have a couple of weeks yet to submit closing arguments as written briefs, after which time the judge will assess the testimony and evidence heard at trial and, ultimately, issue a verdict. You can read my latest coverage of the Lyft trial on the Wheelchair Travel website and catch-up with my earlier reporting in these articles:
I reported on this landmark case from the courtroom in New York, and heard every word of testimony. That coverage will continue and, as soon as Judge Halpern issues his ruling, I will follow-up with a complete analysis of the verdict.
Advertising Message: Although Amazon’s Prime Day sale ended yesterday, there are still some amazing deals being offered on products featured on my list of Must-Have Accessible Travel Gear for Wheelchair Users and Disabled Travelers:
Apple AirTags — These devices connect seamlessly to my iPhone and help me keep track of my luggage and wheelchair when traveling. The 4-pack is $25 off right now, one of the lowest prices I have ever seen.
AirPods Pro Wireless Ear Buds — I dropped the over-the-ear headset years ago, and the AirPods are now one of my most important travel accessories. The noise-cancellation works great and I’m not kidding when I say they are (almost) always in my ear.
I may earn a small commission on sales made through my Amazon affiliate links at no cost to you. Revenue generated in this manner is used to support WheelchairTravel.org and this newsletter.
Destination’s 10-Year Tourism Plan Prioritizes Accessibility, Sets Standard
Earlier this year, I published the free Fort Wayne, Indiana Wheelchair Accessible Travel Guide after a trip that both surprised and delighted me. What I found there was a commitment to accessibility from businesses, non-profit organizations, government and community partners that far exceeds what is typical.
I wanted to learn more about what’s happening behind-the-scenes, and hosted a Q&A with Jessa Campbell, Visit Fort Wayne’s Director of Destination Development and Communications. She shared a lot about the community’s 10-Year Tourism Master Plan, which has made accessibility a priority that the community has adopted with open arms. Check it out, and be sure to share the link with leaders in your own community.
If you represent a destination and would like to advance equal access, promote inclusion and welcome disabled visitors, learn how we can work together.
End of an Era: World’s (Formerly) Largest Hotel Closes in Las Vegas
You may know that Las Vegas, Nevada is one of my favorite cities to visit — for people like me, who enjoy maximizing value out of airline, hotel, and casino loyalty programs, Las Vegas is a playground. When I visit Las Vegas, I am able to take advantage of complimentary hotel rooms, meals and entertainment not because I am a high-roller (far from it), but because I have learned the tricks of the trade in maximizing and extracting value from rewards programs.
It’s a topic not well suited to address on an accessible travel blog, but loyalty programs are the “drug” that got me excited about travel long before I created this website. The ability to travel for pennies on the dollar thanks to points and miles is why I am able to travel so frequently. Sorry to disappoint those who think I was tapping into a (non-existent) trust fund!
Today, I have removed a property from the list of Wheelchair Accessible Hotels in Las Vegas — The Mirage, which opened in 1989 and is as old as I am, has closed its doors after a marvelous 34-year run. Following a planned three-year renovation, it will reopen in 2027 as the Hard Rock Las Vegas, sporting a new guitar-shaped tower that will sit on the site of the beloved volcano, which has erupted for the last time on the Las Vegas Strip.
If you’d like to learn more about the wonderful history of The Mirage — it opened as the world’s largest hotel and casino — check out the latest episode of the Yo-11 Podcast, hosted by my good friend Michael Trager.
If you’re curious about points and miles, I invite you to join me in Las Vegas in November at ZorkFest 2024, which will be serve up “An Ode To Vintage Las Vegas” while delivering tons of information to help you maximize your return on points and miles in airline, hotel and casino rewards programs. ZorkFest is always my favorite event of the year, and it would be wonderful to meet you there!
Wheelchair Travel Meet-up at the Paris Olympics
If you haven’t done so already, join the Wheelchair Travel Group on Facebook, where we are discussing accessible travel topics and the upcoming Wheelchair Travel Meet-up in Paris, France!
As I work to coordinate the schedules of readers who are visiting Paris for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, I have selected August 6, 2024 as the date of our “official” meet-up. While I will provide more specific details the week of the event, my tentative plan is to schedule a gathering between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., nearby a stop on Line 14 of the Paris Metro, which is wheelchair accessible and provides relatively convenient access to multiple sporting venues.
If you would like to join the official meet-up, or want to say hello at another time during my trip to the Games, please head over to the Facebook Group to let me know about your plans. I look forward to meeting you in Paris!
Looking ahead
In next week’s newsletter, I will be sharing information about my upcoming trip to the Olympics, multiple accessible travel conferences that are just around the corner, and how I am planning a trip to one of the nation’s most iconic music venues.
I hope you have a great weekend!
All the best,
—John
Great work on the Lyft issues!
By the way, what do Apple air tags do? Will they track my wheelchair should it get misplaced by baggage handlers?
I had the same experience of the Nashville accessible taxi trying to double the price FOUR YEARS AGO! Sadly, it must work often enough that they are still trying it. Didn't work on me, either. Ugh.