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Remember that time your male taxi driver was even creepier than the guy that hit on you at the bar? Yeah, unfortunately a lot of women do. But NYC ladies may be excited come Tuesday, September 16, when a livery car service exclusively for women will launch. SheRides will offer rides to women in New York City, Westchester County and Long Island, from an all-female staff of cab drivers. Drivers will be identified by hot pink pashmina scarves, because girl power.
According to New York Times, Stella Mateo, the mother of two daughters (who may soon get to use their mother's app), came up with SheRides as a way to help women join the male-dominated industry. Right now, only five percent of car service drivers are women, and only one percent are yellow cab drivers based on a PBS study, so it does seem like Mateo has a point there. Mateo also explained that many women may simply feel more comfortable in the company of other women in a taxi ride, especially on the way home late in the evening. Nothing like being hit on by creepy men during a night on the town, only to hop in a cab with an even slimier driver. Um, try no thanks. Luckily, most NYC drivers aren't like the latter and actually tend to be pretty cool. We even hung out with a driver for a day and he let us know what he has to deal with sometimes; we passengers aren't perfect either.
SheRides (also present in India) is usually called SheTaxi but had to tweak the title due to New York City's restriction on using the word "taxi" in non State-directed companies. SheRides already has 50 female drivers from ages 21 to 71 ready to roll in their hot pink scarves. Also, SheTaxis/SheRides plans to partner with other companies so they can have competitive rates, which means they'll be going up against the usually male-driven companies like Uber or other black car services. So ladies, go find you a pink scarf driver next Tuesday if you're in the mood for a testosterone-free ride.