It’s 2 a.m., you’ve just left a bar, you’re by yourself and need to get back to your apartment. Your first instinct is to hail a taxi, but you’re a slightly uncomfortable about being driven by a man you don’t know. So what can you do?
Well, if you live in New York City, neighboring Westchester County or on Long Island, you will soon be able to request a female driver using the app SheTaxis—SheRides, which is set to launch on Sept. 16.
App users will be asked if a woman is in their party. If there isn’t, they will be redirected to other taxi services, since SheTaxis aimes to serve only women. Not sure if your cab has arrived? Be sure to look for the service's signature icon: the hot pink pashmina. As Lyft has its signature pink mustache adorned on drivers’ vehicles, SheTaxis will have its dispatch drivers flaunting this vibrant accessory —how cute!
According to the New York Times, Stella Mateo, the company’s founder, said her service is a way for women to join the taxi industry, which is composed mostly of men. Mateo herself is the wife of the founder of the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers, which represents 30,000 taxi and livery drivers.
SheTaxis has already recruited 50 female drivers whose ages range from 21-70. Mateo told the New York Times she hopes to expand the service to Washington D.C, Chicago, Miami and other cities in the next year.
Though the service has received praise and caused delight and excitement in some, it has also received criticism that suggest the company is opening a can of worms, at least in terms of discrimination of the sexes. But regardless of the response, this innovative idea seems to be a good option to have out there for those who want to use it and hopefully it will be active in cities across the country in no time.