I’m sure most of you, if not all of you have heard of Uber/Lyft. I’m sure you might have even used these apps to get from point a to point b. It’s a very convenient idea and thousands of people have used these apps. But unfortunately, people with bad intentions often ruin these things for others.
I’m sure many of you have heard about attacks on young women who have taken either Uber or Lyft. It’s sad that something that should be easy to use has to end up with people fearing for their lives or questioning every decision they make.
The whole point of Uber and Lyft is to keep people who have had one too many off the roads. It was designed to get everyone home safely. Prior to Uber, most people used a taxi to get home, but we all know that they can get pricey at times. Which is why the majority of people switched over to these apps, they were cheaper than the other options.
But there have been attacks all over the states, it just seems to be a vicious cycle. It has gotten to the point where women cannot take a simple ride home (when trying to be logical and not get behind the wheel after having too many drinks) and yet they are targeted. Not only women passengers but even women drivers. It takes one angry/drunk person to get into the car or be behind the wheel for something to go incredibly wrong.
Now, there seems to be a new app making its way around and has been all over the news. This app is called Chariot for Women. Now, it's still a fairly new app and like anything that is new, it will need adjustments or have changes along the way. This app is just for women. Only women (women with children as well) passengers are allowed to use the app and only women drivers are needed. The app was originally supposed to launch on April 19, 2016 but due to an overwhelming response from future drivers and passengers, they have decided to continue working on the app to make it the best it can be and try to expand beyond Boston, MA. Might I add the founder and creator of this app is a man, with two daughters.
Also, he was an Uber driver at one point as well. Michael Pelletz, drove in his car and picked up hundreds of people on an average night. Of course, the most popular times that people needed Uber were between 2-3 am on a Friday/Saturday night. Men and women would enter his car, so drunk, that they could not even tell him where their destination was. One of his passengers actually passed out at one point, then squirmed violently and repeatedly reached into his pocket. Obviously, Michael was afraid, and spotted a police car nearby and asked for help. Michael then realized what if this was a young woman? What if this happened to his daughters? That’s when the big idea occurred to him.
Although the app is still in the making, I have a feeling it will be great. We all should look out for one another, not just women. Men can also unintentionally put themselves in sticky situations. We should all take precautions and make the right decision when it comes to our own safety as well as the safety of others. Don’t ever get behind the wheel if you have had one too many, always try to have a designated driver, and just think about all the options you have before you step out. It doesn’t hurt to be prepared. Check out the official website for Chariot for Women for more information.
