I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve been picked up by a female Lyft driver. I can count on one finger the number of times I’ve been picked up by a female Lyft driver at night. I’m always a little comforted when I get into the car and see a female driver. I, like many other women, have been harassed by male drivers in Lyfts and Ubers. That’s from people who know they could lose their jobs over it. I can only imagine the harassment women face who have to pick up male passengers who frequently get a pass on their bad behavior. According to a report from The Verge, female drivers say Lyft and Uber aren’t doing enough to protect drivers from bad riders, and it’s pushing women out of an industry where they’re already earning less than their male counterparts.
Women don’t feel as safe as men in Lyft and Uber’s workspace, and it’s something neither company has done enough about, even though changes wouldn’t be difficult to implement. However, there’s a darker side to their reluctance to ban abusive users: there’s just too many of them.
Reports
The original reporting from The Verge is well worth the read, though it does contain descriptions of sexual harassment and assault. If you’re sensitive to that, proceed with caution. The stories include women who have been hit on and physically assailed by their male passengers. In a few cases, it could have turned to rape, had it not been for bystanders. These are just the people willing to come forward with their stories to The Verge. I have no doubt there are even more disturbing stories.
What worsens these experiences is the apparent lack of action from Lyft and Uber. These companies tell drivers they won’t have to drive an unruly passenger again but drivers say creeps will simply sign up with a new account. Lyft and Uber have no user identification. They let anyone sign up. So with a new email address, a harasser can stalk any driver. The only exception is with Uber, who will only verify someone’s address if they use a temporary or hard to verify method of payment, like Venmo or a gift card. Because getting paid will always take precedence over user safety.
The result of Uber and Lyft’s lack of action to protect their drivers is clear. Nearly half of women The Verge spoke to said that, despite the fact that there is far more money to make at night, they refuse to do it. Others stated they only do airport pickups, even though this often means longer drives without a passenger. Women are limiting the money they can make through these platforms because Lyft and Uber have made it downright dangerous for them. There are exceedingly simple fixes both companies could do, but refuse to do because the relatively small investment isn’t worth the safety of their drivers.
What They Can Do
First and foremost, Lyft and Uber need to ban riders who have engaged in sexual harassment. Permanently. This comes down to an issue of proof. For that, there is a two factor approach that is both a deterrent and proof: dashcams. Many drivers already use their dashcams, but the expensive cost could keep some from being able to get them up front. Lyft and Uber need to provide cameras for their drivers. Drivers say that the cameras curtail bad behavior and can act as proof when it does occur.
Uber and Lyft have to verify all users who sign up. Photo ID, a credit card with their name, photo ID, phone number, and many other authentication methods beyond email are necessary. When users sign up, force them to see screens telling them about the rules regarding sexual harassment. Let them know harassment or hitting on their driver will constitute an immediate and permanent ban.
Finally, give drivers a way to talk to each other. Make sure they don’t feel alone. A Slack server where drivers in large areas can check in with each other is a great way to help drivers feel safe. They can check in with their friends and fellow drivers in the area, as well as report potentially bad drivers so other drivers can be cautious. Uber and Lyft could build safety check-ins directly to the app. These could have and automated service that can ask the driver if they’re okay if a ride has taken too long, and contact emergency personnel if they do not respond.
Uber and Lyft have added emergency call buttons to their apps for drivers and riders alike. But this isn’t enough. People don’t want to call 911 for harassment, they want to make sure that they and no one else has to face it again. Drivers are telling Uber and Lyft what they need to feel safe, and both companies are ignoring those requests, rather than investing in safety. That’s disproportionately hurting their female drivers, creating an inequitable workspace. These companies know they’re furthering inequality, they just don’t care enough to make the necessary investments to fix the problems. Perhaps with enough attention, they will.
Source: Anna Betts, The Verge