Dana Hall students under 18 may no longer use Uber or other ride-sharing services. Students’ use of these services over the last couple of years has actually been in violation of the company’s policies banning users under 18 years old.
Dana Hall has been using Uber for the past few years and was unaware of this company policy, which states, “The service [Uber] is not available for use by persons under the age of 18. You may not authorize third parties to use your Account, and you may not allow persons under the age of 18 to receive transportation or logistics services from Third Party Providers unless they are accompanied by you.” This has been a new discovery to many of the active users of Uber, since the majority that use Uber at Dana are under eighteen.
Kristin Ryan, Dean of Students, said, “The policy had come to our attention because someone affiliated with Dana Hall had gone to a conference with other independent schools and it had been brought up. The deans were informed shortly afterwards.”
Carla Maza ’16 is not too upset, because “I only used it a couple of times to get around since I don’t have a car.”
Uber is a form of transportation that many people use, but since this discovery what will students use for transportation? Kathy Hamel, Associate Dean of Students, and Donna Corrigan, Dean of Residential Life, have been in touch with local taxi companies to tell them that they are going to potentially be getting more calls. JFK Transportation is the taxi company that Dana Hall uses when students have to go to doctor appointments and when traveling to and from the airports.
Ms. Ryan sent students an email on December 15 detailing the new policies for transportation.
Uber has been in the news because of some sexual assaults by drivers. Since 2013 there have been over 50 incidents where riders say that their driver had sexually assaulted them, according to a list of assaults compiled by the Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association (TLPA). According to WBUR, on February 23, 2016, a Boston man was convicted of assault and battery of a passenger. The passenger claimed that he had “touched her indecently several times.”
Although we are unable to use Uber unless over eighteen, there are still ways to get around such as taxis, trains, or friends.