A woman from British Columbia suffering from a neurological disorder is relieved as a Toronto ride-hailing driver has finally returned her mobility device after she mistakenly left it in his vehicle in October. Bronwyn Berg, the device owner, along with her son and Lyft, made numerous attempts to retrieve the $8,000 SmartDrive device, which powers her wheelchair, but without success.
Due to the absence of the motorized assistive device, which is an electronic wheel attached to the back of her chair, Berg faced challenges maneuvering uphill or on uneven surfaces, leading to her confinement at home for several months. Expressing her mixed emotions, Berg shared, “I’m thrilled to have it back, but I also feel exhausted from this prolonged ordeal.”
Berg, who has been wheelchair-bound for around nine years due to her medical condition, had acquired the SmartDrive approximately seven years ago. However, with her current dependency on disability support, she cannot afford to replace the wheel at another $8,000 cost.
Following intervention from CBC Toronto, the Lyft driver eventually agreed to return the SmartDrive, sending it via FedEx to Berg’s son in Toronto. Despite this resolution, the driver failed to provide a clear explanation for withholding the device since October when Berg accidentally left it in his car trunk.
The incident occurred on October 7 when Berg traveled from Chemainus, B.C., to Toronto to visit her son during the Thanksgiving weekend. It was not until she reached Victoria Airport that she realized her SmartDrive was missing, having left it in the Lyft driver’s trunk en route to the airport.
Although the driver initially requested a fee of $30 to return the device, which was agreed upon and facilitated by Lyft, he later stopped responding to all communication attempts from Lyft and the Berg family.
Lyft took action by deactivating the driver and condemned his behavior as “deeply concerning and unacceptable.” The company expressed willingness to cooperate with law enforcement in any related investigation. Magnus, Berg’s son, called the Toronto Police Service in December, seeking assistance in the matter. While acknowledging the report, TPS encountered difficulties persuading the driver to return the device, as revealed in correspondence with CBC Toronto.
Upon the safe return of the SmartDrive, Magnus voiced satisfaction but advocated for policy changes empowering companies to enforce driver cooperation in cases of lost rider belongings, especially crucial medical equipment like Berg’s SmartDrive.