A Women-Only Cab Service App Is in Need of Female Drivers

For women living in any densely populated city, taking public transit can feel like risky business. Many women feel unsafe traveling alone, especially at night. In a survey of riders of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority found that 20% of them felt uncomfortable, or unsafe, due to sexual harassment, including comments, unwanted touching, and exposure. A 2008 survey conducted by the activist collective Stop Street Harassment found that “99 percent of the female respondents said they had experienced some form of street harassment." But no one should have to feel afraid to go out at night, alone, or at all. With this in mind, a start-up called SheTaxis was founded — a livery service aimed at offering female drivers, for female passengers.

As noted on the SheTaxis (known as “SheRides” outside of New York State, for legal reasons) site, women only account for 2% of cab and livery drivers, meanwhile they are 60% of the riders. The start-up seeks to give women “peace of mind” while traveling around New York City. (Note: There is no mention of how this might help transwomen or gender variant people, who are also disproportionately at risk for sexual assault and violence.) The service would also cater to Orthodox Jewish and Muslim women who, for religious reasons, can not ride unaccompanied in a car with a man who is not a relative. The women behind the wheel wear pink scarves to signify their affiliation, and customers can use the company’s iPhone app to schedule a pick-up (it's in the same vein as Uber and Lyft).

[Pic via Flickr - Kate Harding]