I use a power wheelchair and I don’t drive or own a vehicle at home. I live in a big city and pretty much rely on public transportation. When I do take a taxi, I must remain in my wheelchair, as I cannot transfer to a standard seat.
I’m planning on taking several trips in the US and although I know that accessible cabs and van hires are available in some places, their service seems spotty and expensive. With the advent of ride sharing services I’m wondering how reasonable it is for me to rely on them for my future travels. Are Uber and Lyft wheelchair-accessible? I’ve heard they have accessible vehicles in some areas, but that’s about it. Can you give me more information on what wheelchair-accessible ride share services are available in the US, and how I can go about reserving them for my future travels.
The short answer to that question is that both Uber and Lyft have limited accessibility for power wheelchair-users; however they do have other services that will work for folks who use manual wheelchairs, or just need a little extra assistance.
Technically these ride sharing services are not required to have wheelchair-accessible vehicles in all of their locations, as they are considered a service that subcontracts out transportation rather than a transportation company. In short, they operate a network, while the individual contactors maintain their own vehicles and provide rides to customers. That said, under a 2022 settlement agreement, they are prohibited from charging waiting fees if disabled patrons happen to take longer to board their vehicles.
So although there’s not across the board accessibility in all locations, both Uber and Lyft can offer some wheelchair-accessible services in select US cities. Here’s how to secure an accessible ride on them.
Uber
Uber provides two type of accessible vehicle options — Uber Assist and Uber WAV. Uber Assist is for people who can transfer from their wheelchair or just need a little extra help getting into the vehicle; while Uber WAV is for wheelchair-users who cannot transfer to a standard seat.
Uber Assist drivers are trained to give assistance to slow walkers and wheelchair-users. Drivers can assist with transfers, and they have room to accommodate folding wheelchairs, collapsible scooters and walkers in their vehicles. These vehicles are not adapted, and they do not have ramps or lifts. Still, if you just need a bit of assistance, then Uber Assist is for you. To see if it’s available, log into the app, select your pick up point and destination, and scroll down to see if Uber Assist is one of the choice. It’s now available in over 40 cities on Uber X rides.
Uber WAV, on the other hand, provides transportation in a wheelchair-accessible vehicle. These vehicles have ramp of lift access so riders do not need to transfer to a seat. You order it the same way you order any Uber vehicle — just open the Uber App and enter your location and destination. If Uber WAV is available in your area it will appear in the choices. It should be noted that because of limited availability, wait times for Uber WAV scan be longer than for standard vehicles.
Uber WAVs are available in these US cities.
- Boston
- Chicago
- Los Angeles
- New York
- Philadelphia
- San Francisco
- Washington DC
Lyft
Lyft also provides wheelchair-accessible vehicles (WAV). These WAV rides can fit a fixed frame wheelchair, and have ramp or lift access. You can reserve one much in the same way you reserve an Uber WAV. Once you download the Lyft app, go to the settings tab and check “wheelchair-access”. After you do this you will see a ride type called “wheelchair” when you request a ride. Just click on that, and you are good to go.
As with Uber, Lyft only has wheelchair-accessible vehicles in select markets. If you request a ride in an area that doesn’t have wheelchair-accessible vehicles, Lyft will send you a list of local resources that can provide wheelchair-accessible transportation.
Lyft drivers will assist with boarding wheelchair passengers. Additionally, you don’t need to request an accessible vehicle if you can transfer to the vehicle and stow your assistive device in the trunk. Drivers will also assist with the storage of mobility equipment.
Lyft WAVs are available in these US cities.
- Boston
- Chicago
- Dallas
- Los Angeles
- New York City
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Portland
- San Francisco
Ask a Local
Of course, true wheelchair access with ride share companies is still limited. Additionally, because of driver turnover it’s not always consistent. For the most accurate updated information, it’s best to talk to someone local who uses these services on a regular basis. They will be able to tell you about the local availability of Uber and Lyft wheelchair-accessible vehicles. Alternatively, you can also ask someone who has visited the area recently.
Local Facebook groups are a good resource for this information. Search for them in or around your destination. Additionally, some Facebook accessible travel groups may have folks who have recently visited your destination and are willing to share updated local transportation information.
Two good Facebook resources include:
Accessible Travel USA/Canada
www.facebook.com/groups/2288611038093472
Accessible Travel Club
www.facebook.com/groups/922487997878069
Finally, be sure to plan ahead and give yourself plenty of extra time, as the waiting times for WAVs may be longer than for standard vehicles. Hopefully as technology and the need expands, we will start to see reliable ride share options in even more cities.
My husband and I like to travel. He has Multiple Sclerosis and I am his caregiver, but for a vacation I’d like a break too. We are on a budget and can’t afford to have a full-time agency CNA travel with us, plus my husband only needs help in the mornings and evenings. Do you have any suggestions for finding a traveling PCA (personal care attendant) so I can relax on our vacation too?
