Ladies, have you ever felt unsafe while taking public transport? Well, hopefully, with the launch of Riding Pink, you’ll feel a little safer.
Riding Pink, the brainchild of full-time mother Denise Tan, is Malaysia’s first women-only taxi service. The service was created to counter the increasingly alarming rate of robberies amongst females who rely on public transportation.
Tan stated that she first had the idea for Riding Pink when she heard about a female relative who was robbed while taking public transportation. Friends who were harassed by public transportation drivers also spurred her to create a safe environment for women. “So all these sneaky looks, sensitive questions, and outright stares are big factors that played a part for me to come up with this idea to protect women,” she continued.
Not only can women feel safer, the service also creates more job opportunities for them, especially for stay-at-home moms who have to juggle between their domestic commitments and income.
It was launched on 10th October and has been gaining overwhelming support from the public since. They started recruiting drivers in September via Facebook and has amassed a total of around 100 drivers. On the week of 21st to 27th November, 100 trips were recorded while recurring trips on weekdays of those going to school and work are also increasing.
The best thing about the service is that they provide recurring services. For example, parents are allowed to request for the same driver to pick their children up from school at the same hour every day, provided that the drivers are available. If an emergency crops up for the driver, a replacement will then be assigned.
For those wondering, the service also caters to young boys who are aged 16 and below.
As Tan is still matching rides manually, those interested in taking a ride can message Riding Pink on Facebook message or Whatsapp them at 016-2722554. Pick up and drop off points will be requested, and a fare will then be offered to the rider.
For more info, visit Riding Pink’s official website.
Source: The Star Online.
