MN settlement over Lyft disability discrimination could have national impact

Minnesota’s Department of Human Rights announced a settlement with the rideshare company Lyft on Wednesday, March 11, as the two parties came to terms over disability discrimination.

A news release stated the settlement agreement follows an investigation that found Lyft drivers repeatedly canceled rides for Tori Andres, a student traveling with a service animal.

Andres is blind and travels with a trained service dog named Alfred that assists her with daily tasks. Between 2021 and 2023, Lyft drivers canceled multiple rides for her after learning she travels with a guide dog. In one instance, two drivers canceled within minutes of each other after seeing the service animal, causing Andres to miss a medical appointment.

“This case has been deeply personal to me,” Andres stated in the release. “My guide dog Alfred is my freedom, he is the reason that I am able to live my life as a college student and athlete completely independently. I will never stop fighting for my rights and the many service dog teams out there who deserve to go about their lives without worrying about access issues.”

The agreement includes a $63,000 monetary settlement to Andres and also improvements to policies, increased driver education and updates to the Lyft app. Drivers who violate the policies will be warned that they may be deactivated, or unable to continue driving for Lyft.

According to a Lyft spokesperson, the company has a service animal policy that has been in place for nearly a decade and was in effect throughout the investigation.

The Minnesota Human Rights Act prohibits public places from denying people access because they have a disability. The state Department of Human Rights said the agreement benefits riders across the United States, and it will monitor Lyft’s compliance with the terms over the next three years. Lyft will provide information to the human rights department regarding potential service animal policy violations in Minnesota over that time.

“For people with disabilities, access to rideshares like Lyft is not a convenience, it is a civil right,” stated Minnesota Department of Human Rights Commissioner Rebecca Lucero. “This settlement with Lyft is an important step forward. It makes it clear that Minnesota will hold transportation providers accountable, and it reinforces that Minnesotans must be treated with dignity and afforded full access under the law.”

David Dively, executive director of the Minnesota Council on Disability, said on-demand transportation is essential to daily life.

“This settlement underscores the importance of protecting riders who use service animals from discrimination and ensuring equal access in practice," he said. "We welcome continued progress with rideshare providers to strengthen access, accountability, and independence for Minnesotans with disabilities.”

Editor's Note: This story was updated to include additional information concerning Lyft's current policy on service animals and the company's obligations as part of the settlement.