Pune Wheelchair User Faces Discrimination as Uber Driver Refuses Ride

Pune, 14th May 2025: A recent incident in Pune has brought to light the persistent challenges faced by wheelchair users in accessing both public and private transportation. Diksha Dinde, an activist working with various NGOs for people with disabilities and marginalized groups, shared her experience on social media after an Uber driver refused to transport her because she uses a wheelchair.

“Today, for the third time, an Uber driver cancelled my ride just because I use a wheelchair,” Dinde wrote. She described how the driver arrived, but after her companion helped her into the car, the driver refused to allow them in, claiming the wheelchair would damage the seat. “His discriminatory behavior wasted my time, and I was also charged a ride cancellation fee,” she added. Dinde emphasized that such incidents are not isolated, stating, “This is my everyday life. People we call ‘inspirations’ have to face this kind of discrimination daily.”