WDOMI Leads Rally at US Court House to Support Lawsuit Against LYFT

White Plains, NY – August 31, 2023 – Chanting “we will ride,” a crowd assembled in front of the Federal Courthouse in White Plains to support Westchester Disabled on the Move Inc.’s lawsuit against Lyft, Inc., the rideshare and transportation company, which has refused to provide wheelchair-accessible transportation to people with disabilities.

Disability rights advocates have been fighting for years to get Lyft to remove its blocker that keeps riders from being able to order a wheelchair-accessible vehicle anywhere in the United States that Lyft operates.

The rally was timed to a hearing being held August 31 before U.S. District Court Judge Philip M. Halpern in a nationwide class action lawsuit against Lyft. The next hearing is on December 12 when the judge is expected to set a trial date.

Activists, elected officials, and community leaders spoke in support of Westchester Disabled on the Move’s lawsuit originally filed in 2017. Among them were NYS Assemblymember Chris Burdick, Westchester County Legislator Nancy Barr, White Plains Common Councilwomen Jennifer Puja and Vicki Presser.

“This class action will benefit all people with disabilities, including their friends and family. Wheelchair users would like to have the option to go out with friends and family members together and not in a separate Paratransit vehicle,” said Maria Samuels, Executive Director of Westchester Disabled on the Move, Inc. (WDOMI).

WDOMI’s attorney Jeremiah Frei-Pearson of Finklestein, Blankship, Frei-Pearson & Garber LLP, said, “WDOMI never wanted to sue Lyft; it simply wanted Lyft to serve wheelchair users. But Lyft refused to serve wheelchair users, so WDOMI was forced to file a class action. Instead of doing the right thing and settling, Lyft spent millions of dollars fighting to be able to continue to discriminate. Over the past six years, Lyft and its lawyers have made many ridiculous and offensive arguments; for example, Lyft has argued that it is not a transportation company and it has argued that people with disabilities are too poor to afford a Lyft. But the time for Lyft’s ridiculous arguments is nearly over. We are excited that Judge Halpern said we would have a trial in the next nine months and we look forward to winning at trial.”

James Weisman, former CEO and President of national disability rights organization United Spinal, said,“No business should be operating [33] years after the passage of the ADA and say we do not provide service to wheelchair-users.” Members of United Spinal attended the rally.

About Westchester Disabled on the Move Inc.

Westchester Disabled on the Move, Inc., established 1984, is a not-for-profit community-based organization. WDOMI is part of a national network of Independent Living Centers dedicated to independence and equal rights for individuals with disabilities. Westchester Disabled on the Move Inc., is staffed and governed primarily by people with disabilities. The programs and services of WDOMI are free to consumers with disabilities and their families. WDOMI does not discriminate based on age, sex, disability, race or ethnicity, sexual orientation or religion. Westchester Disabled on the Move Inc., receives funding from the New York State Education Department. Additional funding comes from private individuals, companies and foundations that support the independent living philosophy.

Westchester Disabled on the Move, Inc., is a Registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.