3 ms·

It doesn't matter what the law says, in my opinion. Discrimination is discrimination. You wouldn't stop an African-American from getting into your car, right?

hvs 11y ago
Which is why those laws were created in the first place. Because some people WOULD stop an African-American from getting in their car.
GFK_of_xmaspast 11y ago
I bet a lot of uber drivers would.
morganvachon 11y ago
I'd like to think an Uber driver who did would be dropped by the company, but given what this article says I'm beginning to wonder. I recall reading a while back[1] that driver ratings were so important that some drivers were canned after just a few mediocre reports and forced to undergo training that they had to pay for themselves. I can't imagine a driver who discriminates getting a good review, and if it becomes a pattern they should be suspended based on Uber's own policies. But it sounds like Uber is circling the wagons here. [1] http://observer.com/2015/02/uber-drivers-the-punishment-for-bad-ratings-is-costly-training-courses/ http://observer.com/2015/02/uber-drivers-the-punishment-for-...
JohnTHaller 11y ago
Uber drivers regularly discriminate based on race by discriminating based on location of drop off... hence the high rates of 'cancelled' riders Uber users in SF and NYC see when traveling to certain neighborhoods. Neighborhoods that just happen to have higher percentages of non-white residents. This is why we have laws against drop-off discrimination here in NYC. But Uber being Uber sees them as bureaucratic red tape that shouldn't apply to them. Just like disability access laws. And ethics.
- jordanthoms 11y ago
  My understanding is that Uber drivers don't see the dropoff location until they pick up the passenger, and at any rate you can simply not enter the destination and tell the driver where to go.
im3w1l 11y ago
One of these is a case of "I don't like you people, go away!" The other is a case of "I don't want to provide additional service for free!"

hvs 11y ago

Which is why those laws were created in the first place. Because some people WOULD stop an African-American from getting in their car.

GFK_of_xmaspast 11y ago

I bet a lot of uber drivers would.

morganvachon 11y ago

I'd like to think an Uber driver who did would be dropped by the company, but given what this article says I'm beginning to wonder. I recall reading a while back[1] that driver ratings were so important that some drivers were canned after just a few mediocre reports and forced to undergo training that they had to pay for themselves. I can't imagine a driver who discriminates getting a good review, and if it becomes a pattern they should be suspended based on Uber's own policies. But it sounds like Uber is circling the wagons here. [1] http://observer.com/2015/02/uber-drivers-the-punishment-for-bad-ratings-is-costly-training-courses/ http://observer.com/2015/02/uber-drivers-the-punishment-for-...

JohnTHaller 11y ago

Uber drivers regularly discriminate based on race by discriminating based on location of drop off... hence the high rates of 'cancelled' riders Uber users in SF and NYC see when traveling to certain neighborhoods. Neighborhoods that just happen to have higher percentages of non-white residents. This is why we have laws against drop-off discrimination here in NYC. But Uber being Uber sees them as bureaucratic red tape that shouldn't apply to them. Just like disability access laws. And ethics.

jordanthoms 11y ago
My understanding is that Uber drivers don't see the dropoff location until they pick up the passenger, and at any rate you can simply not enter the destination and tell the driver where to go.

im3w1l 11y ago

One of these is a case of "I don't like you people, go away!" The other is a case of "I don't want to provide additional service for free!"