Greyhound Settles with Department of Justice over ADA Violation Claims


Greyhound

Greyhound Bus Lines, the nation’s largest bus company, has agreed to pay over $375,000 in compensation and penalty fines to settle claims that it repeatedly violated the American with Disabilities act.

According to the Department of Justice, Greyhound routinely disregarded numerous ADA requirements including, “failing to maintain accessibility features on its bus fleet such as lifts and securement devices, failing to provide passengers with disabilities assistance boarding and exiting buses at rest stops and failing to allow customers traveling in wheelchairs to complete their reservations online.”

 As part of the Feb. 8 settlement, Greyhound will compensate $300,000 to disabled passengers who the DOJ finds experienced discrimination or unnecessary barriers by the bus line. The Department has also left that number uncapped saying that anyone who received unfair treatment because of their disability within the past three years is eligible to submit a claim and can contact a designated DOJ claims administrator.

The bus company has also agreed to hire an ADA Compliance Manager to train employees and contractors on important ADA practices such as accurate management of the fleet’s accessibility features.

“The ADA guarantees people with disabilities equal access to transportation services so that they can travel freely and enjoy autonomy,” principal deputy assistant attorney general Vanita Gupta, head of the DOJ’s civil rights division, said in a statement last week. “Today’s agreement marks a major step toward fulfilling the promise of the ADA, and we applaud Greyhound for entering the consent decree.”

The DOJ has requested that Greyhound report on its compliance progress every three months.

In addition to its passenger reimbursement, the bus line will also pay $75,000 in civil penalty fines to the U.S. government.


Support New Mobility

Wait! Before you wander off to other parts of the internet, please consider supporting New Mobility. For more than three decades, New Mobility has published groundbreaking content for active wheelchair users. We share practical advice from wheelchair users across the country, review life-changing technology and demand equity in healthcare, travel and all facets of life. But none of this is cheap, easy or profitable. Your support helps us give wheelchair users the resources to build a fulfilling life.

donate today

Comments are closed.