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Piloting UberACCESS in Houston

April 13, 2016 / Houston

More than twenty-five years after the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, access to reliable transportation remains one of the largest challenges for many Houstonians with disabilities. After months of discussing this important issue with both riders and accessibility advocates, we are excited to announce the launch of a new pilot program, UberACCESS.

UberACCESS allows those who need a wheelchair accessible vehicle to request a ride at the tap of a button – 24 hours a day. Available at the same rates as uberX in Houston, UberACCESS will be much more affordable than a taxi. Marvin Coliba, Houston resident, avid music fan, fried chicken lover, and staff member at The Center, marked the launch of UberACCESS as our Rider Zero.

“I’m excited that UberACCESS will give me the opportunity to move around town like anyone else and allow other people who need wheelchair accessible vehicles to go places they otherwise wouldn’t be able to access.” –Marvin Coliba, The Center

Eva Aguirre, CEO of The Center, joins Marvin Coliba, Rider Zero, to request the first ever UberACCESS ride in Houston.

In cities across the country, we’re proud to have partnered with local organizations and leaders to introduce products that facilitate greater economic opportunity for deaf and hard-of-hearing drivers as well as features to accommodate blind and visually impaired riders. The addition of wheelchair accessible vehicles to the Uber platform in Houston is part of our broader effort to expand access to transportation options for all people.

“UberX has been a game changer for millions of people moving all around the world, and I’m thrilled to see Uber applying the same creative ingenuity to provide more consumer choices and opportunities for Houstonians with accessibility needs. UberACCESS will empower people requiring wheelchair accessible vehicles to get a ride when they need one by simply pressing a button.” –Tony Coelho, Co-author of the Americans with Disabilities Act

This pilot program is just the beginning. As we continue to innovate and further expand mobility for riders, we want to hear from you. Let us know about your Uber experience and how we can further improve transportation options in Houston.

How to request:

In the Uber app, tap the menu icon in the top left corner
Tap the “Payment” option and then select “Add Promo/Gift Code” under the “Promotions” section
Enter the code ACCESSHOU to unlock the ACCESS option
Once you are ready to ride, return to the main screen and enter your address in the “Where to?” section
When you are prompted to select your vehicle, continue to swipe left until you see the ACCESS option under the section labeled “More”
Select the ACCESS vehicle option and tap “Confirm” to complete the request*