A passenger gets out of a livery cab on Broadway near Times Square December 20, 2005.Livery Cab (credit: Chris Hondros/Getty Images)
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) — Starting next week, women will be able to request a female driver through a new livery service.
It’s called SheTaxis –SheRides. It starts Sept. 16. The New York Times says the drivers will wear hot pink pashmina scarves.
The service will take requests for rides through an app. Potential riders will be asked if there is a woman in their party. If not, they’ll be automatically redirected to other car services.
The app will be available only through Apple but will eventually be made available for Android.
Some women said they liked the idea of female drivers.
“Definitely feel more comfortable,” one woman told 1010 WINS’ John Montone. “If I’m taking a taxi at 2 in the morning after a late of work, absolutely.”
Many male drivers said the new service seemed unfair.
“Sounds crazy,” one taxi driver said. “Why the discrimination?”
“This is very bad for us because it takes our jobs,” another driver said.
Stella Mateo is behind the livery service. Her husband is Fernando Mateo, the founder of the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers. The group represents 30,000 taxi and livery drivers.
She says she plans to expand the service to other cities.
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