San Clemente Agrees to Comply with Federal Law Stemming from Its Replacement of Two Bus Routes with Lyft Ridesharing Service

         LOS ANGELES – The City of San Clemente has entered into a settlement agreement with the United States to ensure that individuals with disabilities have equal access to its transportation program, the Department of Justice announced today.

         Since October 2016, San Clemente has provided reduced-fare rides through the Lyft ridesharing service for persons along two discontinued bus routes. The Justice Department opened a compliance review to ascertain whether San Clemente’s Lyft program complied with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). From October 2016 to March 2018, persons with disabilities who needed wheelchair-accessible vehicles could not use San Clemente’s Lyft program because it did not offer such vehicles.

         The settlement agreement requires San Clemente to take several steps to ensure that its program complies with the ADA. Individuals with disabilities will have equivalent access to the program, including the abilities to reserve wheelchair-accessible vehicles.

         Assistant United States Attorney Acrivi Coromelas of the Civil Division’s Civil Rights Section handled this matter.

         For more information on the ADA or this settlement agreement, please call the toll-free ADA Information Line at (800) 514-0301 or (800) 514-0383 (TDD), or access the ADA website at http://www.ada.gov.

         This year marks the ADA’s 30th anniversary. The Department of Justice – including the U.S. Attorney’s Office – plays a central role in advancing the nation’s goal of equal opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for people with disabilities.