Female ride-booking service set to launch
DriveHer founder plans to expand the platform throughout the country
The latest entrant into Toronto’s ride-booking scene has one particularly important distinction: Both the driver and the passenger have to be women.
After nearly two years of groundwork navigating the city’s bureaucracy, DriveHer, a ride-booking platform exclusively run and used by women, is set to launch Friday with more than 100 female drivers already signed up. Its arrival adds to the city’s ever-growing ride-booking industry, from Uber to Lyft, InstaRyde, Facedrive and Taxify.
“Finally,” said the company’s founder Aisha Addo, expressing excitement about getting through the process.
“It was exhausting. There were many times I felt like giving up and let go, but someone would then call or message me asking about the service and when we’re launching. That really kept me going.”
Touting itself as an alternative for women who may otherwise feel uncomfortable or unsafe to ride in male-driven vehicles, DriveHer has secured a licence from the city to operate as a private transportation company. Its insurance coverage is provided by Northbridge Insurance, and all the drivers underwent a rigorous background check, according to Addo.
Through the app, users will have access to services including pre-scheduling, safety tips and built-in emergency buttons in case they need immediate assistance while in the car.
While the company will initially operate in the GTA, the plan is to gradually expand throughout the country.
Addo, who also founded the Power to Girls Foundation, said DriveHer is both about safety and empowerment of women. In a male-dominated industry such as taxi driving, incidents of sexual harassment, prying personal questions or lewd comments have been reported in Torontoand across the country.
“We do hope that every woman will use our platform, but it’s OK if some of them want to use other services,” she said of potential backlash from other operators.
“There’s no segregation. I just want women to feel safe when they are on a ride.”