Uber Unveils ‘Moto Women’ Bike Taxis for Women in Bengaluru

In a move to enhance safety and inclusivity in urban mobility, Uber has launched a pilot program called ‘Moto Women’ in Bengaluru. This service is exclusively designed for female riders and drivers, offering an on-demand bike taxi option with an emphasis on safety and empowerment. With growing concerns over the uncertainty of bike taxi operations in Karnataka, this initiative aims to provide a safer, more flexible earning opportunity for women while addressing key issues like safety, privacy, and public transport integration.

Exclusive Service for Women

• The ‘Moto Women’ service connects female riders with female drivers, providing a more secure and comfortable transportation option.
• The initiative currently employs around 300 women drivers.

Empowerment of Female Drivers

• Uber emphasizes not just the safety of riders, but also the empowerment of women drivers, allowing them to earn flexibly in a fast-growing segment of India’s mobility sector.
• Abhishek Padhye, Uber’s Head of Regional Business Operations for India and South Asia, stated that Bengaluru is a pioneering city for innovation in urban mobility.

Significance in Urban Mobility

• The rise of bike taxis in urban India, particularly in Bengaluru, which records over 1 million rides per month, highlights the growing demand for such services.
• A KPMG report found that in 2022, over 280 million bike taxi rides were completed across platforms in India, with 65%-70% of trips focusing on first-and-last-mile connectivity, showing the importance of bike taxis in supplementing public transport.

Safety Features of Uber Moto Women

Trip Tracking and Privacy

• Riders can share their trip details with up to five trusted contacts for real-time tracking, ensuring their safety.
• The app anonymizes phone numbers and drop-off addresses to protect user privacy.

RideCheck and 24×7 Safety Helpline

• The RideCheck feature proactively monitors irregularities such as long stops, route deviations, or mid-way drops, providing timely assistance.
• Both riders and drivers have access to Uber’s 24×7 Safety Helpline for priority support when needed.

Challenges Faced by Women Drivers

Regulatory and Commission Concerns

• Women bike taxi drivers have expressed concerns over high commission rates and called for reduced charges, especially since this is a women-centric initiative.
• Some drivers, like Shilpa Vishwanath, also highlighted challenges from other transport sectors, such as auto drivers who claim bike taxis are illegal, leading to conflicts.

Support and Positive Impact

• Despite the challenges, women drivers have reported positive experiences, citing the financial benefits of the job. 
• Drivers like Geetha P. have found the service beneficial for supplementing their income, with the added comfort of serving women-only passengers.

Future Outlook

Pilot Program Expansion

• The service is currently available in select locations, with plans to expand based on the success of the pilot, feedback from riders, and demand patterns.
• Uber aims to set a benchmark for inclusive urban mobility, particularly for women, with plans for scalability and wider access.