New Female-Only Ride Share App May Launch In Dallas
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DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - The butt of jokes for years, many passengers may actually prefer female drivers.
That's the idea behind a new ride-share app called "She Drives Me" that may soon launch in Dallas and other cities in the fall.
One Uber and Lyft driver, Leticia Alcala is even recruiting locally for the gig.
Alcala, a self-professed "a tough cookie," said male passengers, in particular, pose a challenge.
"You can expect to be sexually harassed - a lot," she said. "I've been propositioned. I've been really harassed. I've been afraid. I've been scared to death."
All reasons she's eager to join the new company.
"She Drives Me" will match women drivers with women passengers, who may feel less comfortable with a man behind the wheel.
"A young girl told me once that the guy kept asking for her telephone number," said Alcala. "She was afraid to have him drop her off at home."
Both Uber and Lyft, have already started recognizing the value of women drivers.
Lyft reports 60 percent of its customers are women, while only 30 percent of its drivers are.
At Uber, women make up just 21 percent of its drivers, prompting a campaign to recruit one million female drivers by 2020.
Alcala said some of her passengers specifically seek out women.
"Every time they request a ride, if they get a male driver, they'll cancel until they get a female driver," she said.
With safety as a selling point, the company also plans to do extensive background checks and drug testing.
Unlike many competitors, it will offer rides to children, too, giving them a way to get to school or a friend's home.
"For parents, that will give them peace of mind, as well," said Alcala.
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