Transportation, ride-hailing and discrimination among the blind and low vision community

• App-based ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft significantly improve access to destinations for blind and low vision users. • Ride-hailing services are also the transport mode in which discrimination is most frequently reported by the blind and low vision community. • Blind and low vision individuals with guide dogs report higher levels of discrimination using ride-hailing than non-guide dog users. • Respondents expressed slightly greater satisfaction with Lyft than with Uber. Individuals with disabilities, including those who are blind or have low vision (BLV), travel less frequently than non-disabled individuals due to persistent barriers across transportation modes. Ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft offer the potential to enhance mobility for the BLV community by providing flexible, on-demand travel options. However, many BLV individuals also experience discrimination when using these services, and there is a lack of research on their transportation and discrimination experiences. This study used an online survey as the first part of a mixed-methods research project to document and quantify the transportation experiences of BLV individuals, with a focus on ride-hailing. We explored differences in user satisfaction and perceptions of discrimination between Uber and Lyft and examined whether guide dog use contributes to higher rates of service denial or mistreatment. Our findings indicate that while ride-hailing services significantly improve access to destinations for BLV users, they are also the mode in which discrimination is most frequently reported. Guide dog users face notably higher rates of ride refusals. Respondents expressed slightly greater satisfaction with Lyft than with Uber. These findings underscore the dual nature of ride-hailing for BLV individuals: it offers greater independence but also introduces new challenges. This research has implications for ride-hailing companies seeking to improve accessibility, and for public agencies partnering with these platforms to deliver equitable, on-demand transportation services.