NYC's women-only taxi service hits the streets
Just launched in New York City, the SheRides mobile app matches female taxi drivers with women who prefer not to be driven by men. Tara Cleary reports.
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Taxi driver Dinorah Decruz is part of a New York City network which aims to make cabs safer for both female drivers and their fairer-sex passengers. SOUNDBITE: Dinorah Decruz, She Taxi driver, saying (English): "I think it's a safer way of working, because we don't deal with money and normally we are going to pick up 90 percent just women." Founded by Stella Mateo, SheTaxis/SheRides isn't a taxi service, but an App that pairs women with women drivers. Users request a ride from cars close to their location and their credit card is charged for the ride. Decruz says she thinks women feel much more comfortable with female drivers. SOUNDBITE: Dinorah Decruz, She taxi driver, saying (English): "Sometimes when you pick up a woman in the morning, they are always late, they are putting on makeup, sometimes they put the nylons on in the back and everything and if it's a man, they won't do it." And in a city where females make up only five percent of taxi and livery drivers, but 60 percent of passengers, Mateo says SheTaxis/SheRides is a flexible employment opportunity. SOUNDBITE: Stella Mateo, founder and president of SheTaxis/SheRides, saying (English): "Mothers that want to work that don't have the flexibility of a schedule, here we go. College students, girls, that want to go out there and work when they're not in school to help pay for their education. It's a great opportunity." SheTaxis/SheRides hopes to launch similar female driver services in other parts of the country. So look out for the signature pink scarves in your city.