A $63,000 settlement has been reached in a Lyft rideshare, service animal dispute with the State of Minnesota after it was revealed that the company violated the state's Human Rights Act.
Between 2021 and 2023, the Minnesota Department of Human Rights documented systemic failures, including a specific instance where two separate drivers canceled on a blind passenger, causing her to miss a medical appointment.
That rider is Minnesota college student Tori Andres.
"I travel pretty much everywhere with my guide dog," says Andres. "He is my eyes. He is my freedom, and he is why I am able to live independently. When Lyft drivers deny a rider simply because they don't want the rider's dog in their car, it affects me personally."
To prevent future violations, Lyft has established a dedicated service animal hotline and implemented a new app feature that allows riders to pre-disclose their service animal to avoid on-site confrontation.
"Well, this agreement is specific to Lyft. We expect that all riders in Minnesota, and in fact across the United States, will benefit from these changes to policy and accountability," Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Human Rights Rebecca Lucero said.
The agreement mandates nationwide driver training, app updates to improve accessibility, and a three-year compliance monitoring period to ensure the rights of riders with disabilities are protected.
