You might have heard about the board member who made a sexist joke at an event designed to address sexism. (He resigned yesterday).
You might have read about the intolerable treatment of women inside the company, that contributed to the proportion of female engineers plummeting from 25% to 3% in under a year.
https://twitter.com/susanthesquark/status/833415550638313472
You may have even seen some alarming stories in the newspaper, like this driver being jailed for raping a female passenger.
What you might not have heard about – and what you REALLY need to hear about – is Shebah.
It is the first all female ride share service in Australia, which was conceived and built by Georgina McEnroe.
Kimmy picking up her first #shebah passengers! So far over 1000 women and girls driven to their destinations by Shebah #ChoosingYourWayHome pic.twitter.com/vuSPQZiEh3
— Shebah (@shebahrideshare) March 31, 2017
It’s an all-female network so the drivers are all women and so are the overwhelming majority of passengers.
It’s mission is to “help women flourish as earners, carers and social butterflies. At every stage, every age, and every hour”.
McEnroe, a teacher, stand up comedian, radio presenter and mother of four, was recently divorced and looking to add to her income. She had started the process of applying to drive for Uber twice, and both times she decided it was too risky.
Who will join me signing up to @shebahrideshare -valuing customers and empowering women as drivers. No sexist comments from board members!
— carol schwartz (@cazzmelbourne) June 14, 2017
At the same time she was worried because her eldest daughter and her friends did not feel safe in either taxis or ride-share cars. They were walking home from parties because they didn’t want to get into a stranger’s car.
According to Shebah’s chief marketing officer, Ginger Biggs, McEnroe was hauling wet clothes out of the washing machine when she thought, “I wish there was a female-only ride-share service.”
She hung out the washing, trudged back inside and started Shebah.
Taking my first @shebahrideshare today. Driver named Gabrielle. Ripper service. Women drivers ftw ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
— Bhakthi (@bhakthi) April 17, 2017
It launched on International Women’s Day this year in Melbourne, Geelong,
Brisbane and Gold Coast and within 24 hours the app shot to the most popular in App Store.
It is now available in Sydney, on the Sunshine Coast and soon to be in Perth, Darwin and Adelaide.
@shebahrideshare one woman learns one woman earns one girl gets to play sport. #Femonomics #EcosystemWorks #Shebah pic.twitter.com/ObOMNLcUIa
— georgina mcencroe (@georgemcencroe) June 5, 2017
Drivers keep 85% of fare with passengers paying GST from launch. All drivers
have a Drivers Accreditation from their state transport authority, a Working with
Children Check (or equivalent) and a current road worthy certificate for their car.
It began as a crowdfunding campaign in 2016 that rapidly grew to a movement
and attracted investors and corporate partners.
Money is power so if you are disappointed with Uber, why not use Shebah instead?