Obligation to provide transportation

Guide dog not allowed in cab: “Shameful!”

Heinz Pfeifer - Chairman of the Carinthian Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, with his faithful assistance dog Lynett and Christian Rumpelnig , Taxi Chairman of the Carinthian Chamber of Commerce.(Bild: WKO/Peter Just)

Disabled people are allowed to take assistance dogs anywhere - but in Carinthia, a cab driver refused to transport a blind passenger with his faithful four-legged friend. This is not only against the law and probably discriminatory, but can also cost you your cab license!

"My Lynett is not just a companion, she enables me to lead a self-determined life," says Heinz E. Pfeifer, whose ten-year-old assistance dog never leaves his side. She warns him of obstacles, indicates sidewalks, escalators or doorbells that the 56-year-old, who has been visually impaired since childhood, cannot see. Of course, Lynett has to go everywhere - and as a trained animal, she is allowed to.

Nevertheless, the heroine on four paws was forbidden to get into a cab! Pfeiffer: "It was shameful to be turned away in this situation! Assistance dogs are recognized by law and play a key role in the mobility and independence of people with disabilities." Christian Rumpelnig, cab spokesman and chairman of the Chamber of Commerce's specialist group, sees the case as an opportunity to better sensitize and train his colleagues.

After all, Lynett's expulsion can have serious consequences: "Up to and including the withdrawal of the cab driver's license!" After all, there is an obligation to drive. Even for four-legged friends, if the passenger is dependent on the company of an assistance dog.

The taxi driver defended his attitude - which could well be interpreted as punishable discrimination - with a dog hair allergy, due to which he could not tolerate animals in his vehicle without endangering his health.

Chamber shows courage for self-criticism
Incidentally, there is something else worth noting about the case: the Chamber of Commerce itself highlighted it on Tuesday and used it as an opportunity for self-criticism to sensitize its members in their dealings with people with disabilities - which is obviously urgently needed!