Woman slams Uber after ‘humiliation’

Says cabs and drivers are not disabled-friendly

Private cab aggregator Uber yet again stirred a controversy after its driver allegedly misbehaved with a differently-abled working woman and pinned her down for ruining his car by keeping her wheelchair.

“I’m not ashamed of my disability. I endure it every day,” Preeti Singh told a TV news channel.

Twenty-four-year-old Singh took to social media networking site Facebook to narrate the horror and humiliation she had to undergo at the hands of Uber drivers on Monday.

“During my trip back home, I really felt humiliated and insulted when the driver kept saying ‘my car is going to get ruined’. I am a very positive person but I did lose it a little. As I reached my destination, I called my brother to clean his car with a cloth so that the driver never says that again to anyone,” she wrote in her Facebook post.

Addressing the post to Uber, Ms Singh describes how two separate Uber drivers “created a fuss” as her wheelchair had to be folded and kept next to her.

“It doesn’t matter whether I book a sedan or a hatchback, most cabs don’t have space in the boot due to CNG cylinders. There are no carriers on top of the cars I’m not ashamed of my disability. I endure it every day. I really felt humiliated and insulted when the driver kept saying ‘my car is going to get ruined. I am a very positive person but I did lose it a little

Preeti Singh

either,” the Delhi-based professional said. The only option is to keep her wheelchair in the car.

Ms Singh further said this is not something new that happened with her while travelling with Uber. In fact, she has tried many times to complain to the cab authorities but no action has ever been taken.

“I pay for your services. Why is it that I still have to feel this way just because I use a wheelchair? I am always praying that the driver doesn’t create a fuss about it. Of course, I am going to travel with my wheelchair. Nobody asks anyone to keep their legs behind while travelling in a cab, so why me?” she asks.

She added that no doubt Uber provides the best service and not every driver is the same but there should be a proper system to avoid such issues.

The cab aggregators should send cars which can at least accommodate wheelchairs, which can happen only if I can inform them while booking, Preeti said.

She also sent a list of suggestions to Uber via email. It was, however, after 14 hours that Uber India responded to her complaint, she said.

Ms Singh said she was hoping Uber India would take her suggestions seriously. “I am ready to give Uber another chance,” Ms Singh said.