Hospital patient says she was kicked out of Uber for asking driver to wear a mask
Posted June 14, 2022 9:09 am.
Last Updated June 27, 2022 4:47 pm.
This past weekend Ontario residents were provided with the choice to mask up or mask off, after the provincial government lifted the mask mandate in almost all settings. The rules haven’t changed in places that provide services to the vulnerable patient population like hospitals and long-term care homes.
And while the choice is yours to wear a mask on transit, in taxis and ride-share vehicles, the lifting of the mandate has lifted that added layer of security for some of the vulnerable when using these transportation services to get to and from facilities that still require masks.
“Our needs have not been factored into the reopening plans and lifting of restrictions,” Beverly Herscovitch tells CityNews, after describing an unsafe experience she encountered with an Uber driver upon leaving a Toronto hospital.
“When the driver arrived, he wasn’t wearing a mask – which is fine, he’s not legally required to. However, I’m at higher risk and I don’t want to get sick and risk my surgery being canceled so I asked him if he had a mask”.
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The Toronto resident alleges that the ride-share driver became defensive and rude while continuing to reiterate that he wasn’t required to wear one. As a secondary option, Herscovitch requested for the driver to roll-down all four windows.
“He immediately started yelling at me, pulled over angrily, and kicked me out of the car, saying that I shouldn’t speak to him like that and he was canceling my ride,” she adds.
“I didn’t tell him to wear a mask, I asked him. Also, asking him to open the windows is a reasonable accommodation for a 10 minute Uber ride. It was an incredibly unsettling experience and I immediately reported him to Uber.”
Just got kicked out of an Uber for politely asking the driver if he had a mask. When he said no, I asked if he could open all four windows. He yelled at me and pulled over and told me to get out. This is unacceptable. Btw, he picked me up from a hospital. @Uber @Uber_Support
— Bev – Healthcare Advocate (she/her) (@bevlate) June 13, 2022
But Uber’s response to what unfolded left her questioning the little that is being done by the ride-sharing company and government officials when it comes to protecting while servicing vulnerable passengers.
“Their response was to apologize that I felt unsafe, and give me a $5 credit. This is unacceptable”.
Uber’s website confirms that as of April, riders and drivers are no longer required to wear a mask, “However, as per Health Canada’s advice, we strongly recommend wearing a mask depending on personal risk factors and infection rates in your area.”
Reminding those using and offering the service that many people still feel safer wearing a mask because of personal or family health situations.
“So please be respectful of their preferences. And if you ever feel uncomfortable, you can always cancel the trip”.
Herscovitch says that her story is an example of how the vulnerable, sick and those with disabilities have been ignored during this pandemic and hopes drivers will be more considerate when picking up patients at these locations.
“For this driver to be so incredibly rude and threatening in a medical setting, it’s both heartbreaking and infuriating. If he doesn’t want to wear a mask to protect vulnerable patients, he shouldn’t accept a ride with a pickup at a hospital.”
