Controversy over women-only taxi services
Worldwide, various cases linking ride-sharing companies to cases of harassment and assault on women have been reported since the taxi-hailing app officially launched in 58 countries in 2015.
Discrimination?
The idea of a proposed new ride-sharing service, like Uber, Chariot for Women, catering specifically to women has caused much controversy and tension over issues of discrimination in Massachusetts, USA.
Some of us might be delighted at the thought of the option of an Uber-like service for women. Particularly when travelling alone or late at night you might feel more at ease being driven by another female.
Is it really safer?
And on the other end of the scale it’s worth considering female Uber drivers who would feel far safer transporting women. Generally speaking this is not to say that women are less of a risk. However based on previous incidents, most of which involved male drivers and/or passengers, it’s only natural that some women would feel safer transporting or being driven by females only.
The issue of whether the concept is legal or not is yet to be discussed by Chariot for Women’s founder, Michael Pellets, while Civil rights lawyers have said that it would probably conflict with the state’s anti-discrimination laws.
“Getting our ducks in a row”
Ex-Uber driver, Michael Pelletz said that the idea of running an Uber service exclusive to female drivers and passengers came to him after driving an intoxicated passenger home one evening, which made him wonder how a female would’ve felt in his situation.
When asked about the legal issues to do with this, Pelletz replied, “We’re getting our ducks in a row. Right now, we’re concentrating on launching,”
The company has plans to launch the service on the 19th April 2016.