Female-only ride-share service challenges skeptics

The new start-up company, SafeHer (formerly Chariot for Women), has been nicknamed “Uber for Women” because it offers ride-sharing services through a simple phone app.  What makes SafeHer different though, is that the service is exclusively for – and provided by – women. 

Ironically, it was a man who founded the company.  Michael Pelletz started driving part-time for Uber to make ends meet in 2013.  After losing his main job three years later, Pelletz utilized the shared economy’s flexibility and began driving for 17 hours a day.       

With hours like that, it wasn’t long before Pelletz encountered a potentially dangerous rider.  The rider was a young man, who, after stumbling into the car, would pass out and wake up repeatedly, reaching into his pocket and making sudden movements.  Pelletz found a police officer and pulled over.  The experience terrified him and he wondered if women had faced similar circumstances while using the service – both passengers and drivers.  Pelletz decided to do something about it. 

In an effort to go further than its competitors in terms of safety, SafeHer plans to provide more extensive security measures for all users.  On Friday, April 15, 2016, in a telephone interview with The Center for Worker Freedom (CWF), Pelletz stated that, in his view, “safety and security are not Uber’s top priorities.”  For example, when he first applied as a driver, his application had been approved within eight hours: a time he claims is not nearly enough for a comprehensive background check. 

In addition to extensive background checks, SafeHer has no plan to implement dynamic pricing.  While surge pricing is a big incentive for Uber drivers to drive at peak hours, Pelletz remains confident that SafeHer cars will be available even during inconvenient times (bad weather, high traffic, late nights, etc.).  One explanation he provided is SafeHer’s unique payment system.  Rather than getting paid once a week like at Uber, SafeHer drivers would be paid immediately as the passenger exits and, after the first $100 in 24 hours, take home 98 percent. 

Though SafeHer’s “no surge-charge” policy might be enticing for potential passengers, drivers might be less enthusiastic.  Annette (last name withheld) is an Uber driver in a major American metropolitan area.  After experiencing the flexibility of Uber, she left her job at a limousine service and began driving full-time. 

When CWF asked Annette about surge charges, she said that surges weren’t enough to alter her schedule, but some part-time drivers she knew based their whole schedules on them. 

If the “no surge-charge” policy isn’t enough to attract drivers like Annette, Pelletz bets that users will appreciate its unique charity initiative.  Two percent of every SafeHer fare would go to charity.  Every month, Pelletz says, a list of ten location-based charities would rotate in, and when the app is opened, the passenger would be able to choose where a portion of her fare would go.

But this noble venture might encounter some bumps in the road.

Some critics argue that SafeHer’s model isn’t sustainable, especially since it cuts the market for drivers and passengers in half.  Others have brought up legal challenges, specifically the Civil Rights Act of 1964’s Title VII, which specifically prohibits employment discrimination based on sex.

In his interview with CWF, Pelletz not only acknowledged the legal challenges, but actually welcomed them.  If an anti-discrimination suit is brought forth as expected, SafeHer will be in a rare position to advocate and be a voice for women, Pelletz said.  He stated that SafeHer’s overwhelming publicity (he claimed the website averages 250,000 hits everyday) has already helped forge the conversation of women’s safety in the sharing economy.

SafeHer’s future victory in a hypothetical lawsuit could have severe consequences.  If an employer is legally allowed to discriminate in the hiring process, what’s to protect women, individuals with disabilities and people of color from other companies who could decide to do likewise?

Annette is even skeptical of the company’s rationale.  When CWF asked for her thoughts on the need for such a service, she shrugged.  Annette said that in her time as a driver, she had only encountered one or two obnoxious passengers and the situations were “nothing [she] couldn’t handle.”

And this isn’t the first time a car service has featured female-only drivers.

SheTaxis claimed to be “the only taxi and car service app in the country tailored to the needs of women.”  According to ABC News, SheTaxis was founded in 2014 but shut down due to “accusations of discrimination from men.”  Founders Stella and Fernando Mateo (the latter is currently head of the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers) plan to re-launch Summer 2016 as SheHails.  This time around, SheHails plans to include male drivers and passengers but female users could choose to interact with other women only.

In spite of its limited market appeal and brief lifespan, SheTaxis was able to reach a previously overlooked audience: the suburban mother. 

Suburban parents who want drop their kids off at soccer practice or piano lessons have found these ride-share services sparse; drivers tend to flock to urban areas with more traffic.  But these companies have been working to fill the need.  In fact, at his February 2016 Ted Talk, Uber CEO Travis Kalanick announced plans to expand service in the suburbs.   SafeHer also plans to target the suburban market.  SafeHer intends to have enhanced safety features, including route-tracking capabilities that would enable parents to monitor a car’s course when carrying their child.

Originally, SafeHer was set to launch on April 19, 2016.  But a post on the company’s Facebook page disclosed that the nationwide launch would be postponed.  According to Pelletz, SafeHer was created to “revolutionize the industry that revolutionized the taxi industry.” 

Revolutions take time.  And they don’t always succeed.

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The Center for Worker Freedom would like to thank Mr. Pelletz and Annette for their time.