'Chariot for Women' is a new ridesharing service that is very similar to Uber, aside from the fact that it is only available to women. Designed to reduce instances of sexual assault carried out in taxis, this service offers a safe alternative for women and children.
Chariot for Women was dreamed up by Michael Pelletz, who is a former Uber driver himself. Unlike Uber, the new service is female-run, female-staffed and almost exclusively available to women and children. All of the drivers are thoroughly background checked and additional security protocols are put in place for added safety. For instance, drivers must answer a security question prior to each trip in order to confirm their identity and passengers must give the driver the correct safe word in order to begin the journey.
The service is set to launch on April 19th, giving women and children an alternative option when it comes to ridesharing programs.
Female-Only Ridesharing Services
The 'Chariot for Women' Taxi Service Aims to Reduce Sexual Assult
Trend Themes
1. Female-only Ridesharing - Creating ridesharing services that prioritize the safety and comfort of women is a growing trend in the transportation industry, presenting opportunities for female-led businesses and gender-focused marketing strategies.
2. Background-check-focused Hiring Practices - Ridesharing services that prioritize background checks and security protocols for drivers, particularly for women-only services, may disrupt and set new safety standards for the transportation industry.
3. Innovative Identification Processes - Developing unique identification processes for riders and drivers, like using a safe word or answering a security question, may become a standard practice for ridesharing services looking to prioritize safety for all passengers.
Industry Implications
1. Ridesharing Services - Gender-exclusive ridesharing services like Chariot for Women are disrupting the traditional ridesharing market, presenting opportunities for companies that prioritize safety and comfort, particularly for female riders and drivers.
2. Transportation - The rising importance of safety in the transportation industry, including background checks and security protocols, may offer opportunities for companies specializing in security technology and solutions.
3. Women-led Business - The rise of female-run and female-staffed ridesharing services, like Chariot for Women, could lead to the growth of more women-led businesses in the transportation industry.