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Agschmid

(28,749 posts)
Mon Sep 8, 2014, 03:12 PM Sep 2014

Well there goes male privilege*...



NEW YORK — New Yorkers can already choose from yellow taxis, green cabs or black livery cars. They can tap a smartphone app for a ride, or simply stick out an arm. They can pay with cash or credit.

Now there is one more option: a female driver.

A new livery service starting Sept. 16 in New York City, Westchester County and Long Island will offer female drivers exclusively, for female riders, according to its founder. It will take requests for rides through an app, and dispatch drivers sporting hot pink pashmina scarves.

The service will be called SheTaxis — SheRides in New York City because of regulations barring it from using “taxi” in its name — and aims to serve women who may feel uncomfortable being driven by men, or who simply prefer the company of other women. The app will ask potential riders if there is a woman in their party. If not, they will be automatically redirected to other car services.


Read more about it here, apparently it is already a thing in India.

*And yes my headline was
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Well there goes male privilege*... (Original Post) Agschmid Sep 2014 OP
I can understand this... TheVisitor Sep 2014 #1
I agree. I think it is a perfectly acceptable idea. Agschmid Sep 2014 #2
I know a woman who experienced the best and the worst with male taxi drivers. ieoeja Sep 2014 #3
I find the whole cab process to be tiresome. Mercy_Queen Sep 2014 #4
Lemme guess a car service? Agschmid Sep 2014 #8
Mumbai's had it for a few years now Recursion Sep 2014 #5
I think this is most likely a service to both Orthodox Jews Warpy Sep 2014 #6
It's nice to have a choice lunatica Sep 2014 #7

TheVisitor

(173 posts)
1. I can understand this...
Mon Sep 8, 2014, 03:29 PM
Sep 2014

because some women may feel uncomfortable being in such close quarters with a male driver, especially when they are alone with him.

 

ieoeja

(9,748 posts)
3. I know a woman who experienced the best and the worst with male taxi drivers.
Mon Sep 8, 2014, 03:37 PM
Sep 2014

In one cab some guy tried dragging her out before the driver pulled a gun on the creep.

Another cabbie decided not to stop when he got to her destination preferring to keep her "company". She jumped out at the next stop light.

 

Mercy_Queen

(42 posts)
4. I find the whole cab process to be tiresome.
Mon Sep 8, 2014, 03:40 PM
Sep 2014

I guess I'm spoiled with several other modes of transportation at my disposal.

Warpy

(111,270 posts)
6. I think this is most likely a service to both Orthodox Jews
Mon Sep 8, 2014, 03:43 PM
Sep 2014

and Muslim immigrants. It will increase the mobility of those women who can now venture outside their neighborhoods without a male escort.

That some women who are disgusted by boorish behavior from some cabbies will also use it is just icing on the cake.

Note: most drivers are not boors, just guys trying to make a living while they wait for a real job to open up.

lunatica

(53,410 posts)
7. It's nice to have a choice
Mon Sep 8, 2014, 03:45 PM
Sep 2014

I hadn't thought about this eventuality, but now that I would be given a choice I know I would ask for a woman. Mostly just to support women cab drivers because I'm a woman myself and it's time for everyone to be equal, no matter their sex, ethnicity or race. It's just time.

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