Disabled Woman Files Lawsuit Against Car-Sharing Services

WASHINGTON - Two popular car sharing companies and the District of Columbia are facing a discrimination lawsuit.

At issue is the accessibility for the disabled after both Flexcar and Zipcar refused to provide hand controls for a disabled woman.

Elaine Gardner, project director for the Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs, said not providing hand controls and prohibiting seeing eye dogs from such cars is a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

D.C. is included in the lawsuit because the city gives the two companies free parking spaces. Both companies say they have been trying to find a solution but will not talk about specifics.

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