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Posted: 2023-02-15 02:22:48

A Brisbane man who has been refused service via a rideshare company three times in the past two months says he is "tired" of having to stand up for his "basic rights as a human being".

Henry Macphillamy has been blind since birth and relies on his guide dog Yasmin to help him maintain a busy and "very full life".

He also relies on public transport, Uber and taxis to get around.

The lawyer said the latest incident infuriated him so much that he decided to post about it on social media.

"It happens from time to time, but on this occasion I was booking an Uber from a busy shopping centre strip where I had a medical appointment," he said.

"The Uber came and the driver tried to explain the law to me. I happen to be a lawyer so that was probably not the best idea.

"Essentially he said, 'No dogs — don't care if it's a guide dog, no dogs.'"

A tall man in a shirt and jeans with a labrador in a harness.
Mr Macphillamy said the driver's decision left him in a vulnerable position.(Supplied: Henry Macphillamy)

Luckily, two strangers witnessed the incident and safely dropped Mr Macphillamy and his dog home, but he said the driver had left him "in a pretty vulnerable situation on the side of the street".

He said in most cases, the rideshare driver would cancel the job once they found out an animal would be travelling too, but the driver in question had not seen that information until too late.

"I advised him he was breaking the law and that I'd report him and I did," Mr Macphillamy said.

"My frustration is that this stuff keeps happening.

"It's my view that it's not being very heavily regulated and in the situation where rideshare is making itself an indispensable part of the economy, there doesn't seem to be a social licence for them and drivers are doing whatever they want."

Uber offered an apology and a $35 credit for future rides but Mr Macphillamy was left feeling that the refusal was the "final straw".

Uber to create 'specialised program'

An Uber spokesperson said the company acknowledged "service animal refusal is an issue across society and sadly rideshare isn't immune".

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