Accident survivor relies on rideshare

Greg Yukumoto relies on Uber in a way that maybe the casual rideshare-user or the person who drives themselves everywhere wouldn’t know.

Yukumoto, U.S. Army veteran and accountant for the state, was riding a moped through the intersection of University and Date streets on March 20, 2014, when he was hit by an SUV whose driver didn’t see him. The impact shattered bones through his left leg and hip, right arm, left shoulder and lower spine.

He spent two months at The Queen’s Medical Center and then two months at the Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific learning how to walk again.

“I will have a lifetime of rehab,” Yukumoto said.

He can drive, but some days are better than others, and on the bad days, he calls Uber to get to and from appointments at Queen’s, the Rehab Hospital, Tripler Army Medical Center and the Department of Veterans Affairs offices.

To visit Tripler and for going on base for shopping or to pick up a prescription, Yukumoto uses Uber Military, where the driver is active duty or a veteran with easy access to restricted military property.

“The driver shows their military or veteran’s ID, I show my own veteran’s credentials, and we’re in. That’s it. Fast and easy.” Yukumoto said. Without a military ID, the screening process to get on base can be arduous. “For military or veterans such as myself who use the VA center often, this is an extremely valuable option to have,” he said.

He also makes use of Uber Assist, where drivers are trained to help riders with mobility issues.

“Some days I say, ‘Today I’m not walking too good’ and they help me carry groceries or go up stairs,” he said.

Yukumoto, who is 44 years old, is no longer able to work. He had just completed a masters degree in business administration before the accident. He lives on a fixed income and budgets around $100 for transportation every month. On good months, when he has a little extra, he spends $12 to take Uber to the beach so he doesn’t get sand in his car.

During all those medical appointments, he’s talked with others sitting in the waiting room and found that many elderly, disabled and recovering patients rely on Uber and Lyft. Medical appointments are usually scheduled during work hours when family and friends aren’t able to provide rides. Also, there are times when the doctor’s office calls in the last minute to reschedule an appointment or offer an earlier time, and in those instances, Uber and Lyft can be more flexible than HandiVan.

And he finds that rideshare drivers are nice.

“It all goes back to the rating system,” Yukumoto said. Each customer is able to leave feedback on the specific driver and that, Yukumoto said, motivates good service.

Yukumoto said he worries about the Honolulu City Council’s recent passage of Bill 53, which would mark the first time a U.S. city caps how much ridesharing services can charge. Honolulu, like other places, is still trying to get a handle on the disruptive effect that ridesharing has had on traditional taxi service, which still plays an important role in how people get around. That ridesharing has found a niche in providing responsive service to veterans and people with disabilities, not just tech-savvy millenials, is something Yukumoto wants people to know.

Reach Lee Cataluna at 529-4315 or lcataluna@staradvertiser.com.