In Nigeria, there’s a new kind of ride-hailing service is operating on the streets of Abuja.
HerRyde is a woman-only ride-hailing company that is providing a safer option for female drivers and riders while creating work opportunities for more women.
“HerRyde is committed to women’s safety and inclusion in the ride-hailing/mobility space. We aim to provide women with safer taxi experiences while driving inclusion by providing a safe space for women to work and earn as mobility entrepreneurs.” according to a statement provided to media company TechCabal.
According to the founders, Monsurah Oluwafuyi and Muhammad Muazu, the company came from their collective desire to change the reality that too many women get harassed and abused on ride-hailing trips.
But HerRyde is not the only ride hailing service trying to combat abuse of female riders. Uber, the biggest name in ride hailing, is launching its “Women Only” feature on its app this year. The feature is currently being tested in Latin America.
Uber said the feature contributed to 15 million trips and a 40 percent increase in active female drivers in Mexico since it launched in November 2020.
There’s currently no timeline on when this feature will launch in the African region but it’s still a step forward for female riders looking to have a safe ride home.
Assault and Abuse On Female Riders
Female riders on most ride-hailing services have been under duress during rides. Uber is facing a lawsuit from a firm representing women who claim they were assaulted by drivers who use the ride-hailing platform in the US.
The complaint, claims that “women passengers in multiple states were kidnapped, sexually assaulted, sexually battered, raped, falsely imprisoned, stalked, harassed, or otherwise attacked” by their Uber drivers.
It’s not only in the US that female riders face these scourges. Social media users in Ghana and other African countries typically report physical and verbal abuse by ride-hailing services on social media like Twitter and the issues sometimes seem rampant.
Ride-hailing services have been adding safety features to help stem the tide. In the US, Uber has launched an emergency button to the Uber app which allows a rider or driver to call 911 and have the car’s make and model, license plate, and GPS location made available to 911 dispatchers.
Data Shows That A “Women Only” Feature Would Be A Hit
Women-centred services have shown market demand across a remarkably diverse range of contexts. The Internation Finance Corporation (IFC) did a six-country study and found that these services would boost women’s use of ride-hailing across locations, particularly when traveling at night, alone, or in insecure areas.
In Sri Lanka, 90 percent of women PickMe riders stated that they would choose the gender of their drivers, and 25 percent would be willing to pay a premium to do so.
HerRyde in Nigeria is definitely a great idea. Local emergency services do work with some ride-hailing services in some Africa countries but having a female-only option might be the best solution for women to ride from one location to another while feeling safe.
Until then, maybe a female option for female riders looks like a safe bet till on major ride services get onboard.
