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Rideshare Safety Under Scrutiny After Viral Incident

A recent video shared on social media highlights the emotional struggles faced by a woman attempting to use a rideshare app late at night, drawing significant attention from other female users who have had similar experiences.

In her video, the woman recounts being stranded in Toronto for nearly 45 minutes after she scheduled a ride to Whitby. During this wait, her Lyft driver allegedly solicited extra money, which she refused, leading to the cancellation of her ride. “It’s 3 o’clock in the morning and I just want to go home,” she expressed tearfully in her account.

The individual behind the TikTok account @bluntcontinent, who prefers to remain anonymous, disclosed that this was not an isolated incident. It marked the second consecutive ride where a Lyft driver asked for cash for a long-distance journey. In her first encounter, she felt obligated to comply, fearing for her safety and wanting to get home as quickly as possible.

“The first time I agreed because I felt bad,” she shared. Upon entering the car, the driver questioned how much she had paid, revealing he would only receive $18 from the ride. He requested to cancel and asked for the full fare in cash, which she reluctantly agreed to, opting for an e-transfer. “I immediately regretted it,” she admitted.

Rideshare platforms such as Lyft and Uber implement tracking and location sharing features for user safety; however, these tools become unavailable if a ride is canceled. “After midnight, being in a stranger’s car with no one tracking me was a bad choice,” she noted. Following this unsettling experience, she faced demands for cash yet again from a different driver the next night, but this time she refused, resulting in her ride being canceled once more.

The video resonated widely as numerous women came forward in the comments section, sharing their own stories of being pressured into cash payments or threatened with canceled rides if they did not comply.

Safety Concerns Raised by Rideshare Users

Another rideshare user, Adeba Siddiqui, voiced her concerns, stating that these situations are not only common but also pose serious safety risks. “I’ve had many instances where this has happened, and it’s really unsettling,” she explained. She noted that such requests frequently occur during long-distance trips or late at night, emphasizing the vulnerability it creates when drivers cancel rides and users lose tracking capabilities.

In response to these allegations, Lyft reaffirmed its policy against such behavior. The company stated that riders should report any incidents immediately to ensure appropriate actions are taken, which could include the deactivation of offending drivers.

Henrietta Francis, a regular Lyft user, also conveyed her unease, suggesting that these practices might stem from the low earnings of rideshare drivers. She recounted an early morning journey where her driver requested cash instead of using the app, leading to a tense situation where she feared for her safety before he eventually began the ride.

Rideshare Policies Under the Microscope

The issue went beyond personal stories, as another user, Marnie Gallop, described a troubling encounter while visiting Toronto. She and a friend were picked up by an UberX driver who insisted they pay extra in cash under the pretext of needing an Uber XL due to their luggage. Despite feeling uncomfortable, they complied to avoid conflict, only to discover later that the booking had been altered to an Uber XL, incurring an additional $50 charge.

As the conversation surrounding rideshare safety continues to evolve, many users question the effectiveness of current measures, despite existing policies that discourage cash transactions. “It is very unsettling,” remarked the initial TikTok user who shared her experience.

Source
globalnews.ca