Jillian Anderson stated she based HERide primarily based on her experiences as a driver.
ATLANTA — A rideshare firm catered completely for women in launching in Atlanta. It’s known as HERide and was based by a former Lyft driver of 4 years.
“The main thing that makes us different is we are for women by women,” founder Jillian Anderson said. “All of the drivers on our platform are women.”
“I used to be in all probability one of many earliest Lyft drivers in Atlanta,” she said. “I would normally drive at night, and I would pick up a lot of women and they were canceling rides until they got a woman driver.”
“There’s been women that have been followed, she added. “There’s been women which have been contacted after their experience. Women which have been touched on.”
Thousands of assaults are reported to Uber and Lyft yearly, in line with the rideshare giants’ personal information.
Uber’s most up-to-date security report reveals between 2017 and 2018, there have been practically 6,000 reported sexual assaults throughout or after a experience. They additionally reported a mean of 4 rapes reported every week.
Lyft launched related information a yr later, revealing greater than 4,000 studies of sexual assaults from 2017 to 2019.
11Alive requested each corporations for up to date information, however had been instructed none is obtainable.
When they launched their 2019 security report, Uber vowed to launch security and assault information each two years. When requested why no new report has been launched since, an Uber spokesperson defined the delay is as a result of they’re ready on NHTSA’s 2020 FARS (Fatality Analysis Reporting Data) report, which has not but been launched.
Anderson says when the thought of a women-only rideshare firm got here to her, it appeared so apparent.
“Women feel uncomfortable in ride share and rides all the time,” she said. “It just dawned on me and I was like, wait, there aren’t any apps that cater just for women? Half of the people that take rideshares are women.”
So she launched HERide, with co-founder and advertising and marketing director Kiersten Harris.
They’re nonetheless in the fundraising and driver interview course of.
“When a driver signs up, I want to meet you,” Anderson defined of their course of. “Not solely do I wish to see your automotive, however I wish to see who you’re, the kind of particular person you’re.”
Even throughout a pre-launch, the women of Atlanta have seemingly spoken.
“The response has been insane,” Anderson said. “We have over twenty thousand downloads on our platform…customers that have downloaded our app, created an account and are waiting for us to go live. Women need this. Women need the option.”
You can obtain HERide or study extra right here.
While Lyft and Uber didn’t present up to date assault information, each corporations provided a press release and an overview their many security options.
An Uber spokesperson stated: “Safety is a prime precedence at Uber. Every journey is GPS tracked, drivers should cross a radical background examine, and we’ve pioneered most of the security options which might be customary in the trade right now, together with an in-app emergency button. Our work on security isn’t accomplished, and we stay dedicated to investing in expertise and options designed with security in thoughts.”
Uber additionally highlighted the next security options:
- 911 integration pilot in 1800+ jurisdictions: If a rider or driver makes use of the emergency button in one in every of these cities, Uber’s tech and partnership with Rapid SOS allows key journey particulars to be digitally despatched to 911 dispatchers together with the caller’s title, make and mannequin of the Uber automotive, license plate, and GPS.
- RideCheck helps be certain that drivers and riders are OK in the occasion of a doable crash or sudden lengthy cease.
- Follow My Ride function accessible in the app for drivers allows them to share their journey route in actual time with household or family members.
- On-Trip Reporting: This function permits riders to report a non-emergency security difficulty throughout an Uber journey.
- Trusted Contacts: Riders can select to be prompted mechanically to share their journey with family members. Available globally.
- Safety Center: a devoted part in the app the place riders can study extra about security options and data which is obtainable globally.
- Check Your Ride notification: A push notification and in-app reminder that instructs riders to verify the automotive particulars — make and mannequin, license plate, and driver photograph – match what’s in the app earlier than getting in.
- Verify Your Rides: Riders have the choice to confirm every of their rides with a singular, 4-digit PIN that they’ll verbally present to their driver, who should enter it into their very own app in order to start out the journey. This helps riders be sure that they’re stepping into the precise automotive, and it helps drivers be sure that they’re selecting up the precise rider.
- In April 2021, Uber rolled out a new rider verification function throughout the US that can present an additional layer of verification for riders who’re utilizing nameless types of cost akin to pay as you go playing cards, present playing cards or Venmo.
- In 2021 Uber additionally launched the Uber Survivor Resources Hotline which supplies instant, confidential and trauma-informed help for survivors reporting essential sexual assault incidents associated to the Uber app.
In response to this story, a Lyft spokesperson stated: “Safety is fundamental to Lyft. While safety incidents on our platform are incredibly rare, we realize that even one is too many. Our goal is to make every Lyft ride as safe as we possibly can, which is why we’re constantly working to develop new features, policies and partnerships to help protect and support riders and drivers.”
The firm stated they provide a number of security options, together with:
- Driver screening: Lyft requires preliminary and annual background checks of drivers, steady prison and driving document monitoring, in addition to neighborhood security schooling created in session with RAINN, North America’s largest anti-sexual violence group.
- In-app options:Lyft permits riders to share their location with household and mates, join immediately with Lyft Support, and shortly and simply entry emergency help from the Lyft app. Two of Lyft’s latest options embody:
- Emergency Help, supported by ADT, permits riders and drivers to shortly and discreetly join with an ADT safety skilled, who can alert authorities to allow them to arrive on the person’s stay location, outfitted with experience particulars just like the automobile’s make and mannequin, license plate quantity, and the supposed drop-off location.
- With Smart Trip Check-in, Lyft can attain out to riders and drivers if their experience seems to be irregular and may join them to our personal Safety staff or emergency help.