Source: The Straits Times
University student sets up carpooling services for women only
Ms Ong Shuling, a university student in her 20s was so scarred by her experiences that she set up the SG Hitch Female Drivers Riders group chat on the messaging app Telegram, solely for female drivers and riders.
“The (carpooling services) are a good initiative, but unfortunately, too many people are using it for the wrong purposes,” said Ms Ong.
Unlike ride-hailing services, where drivers specifically ferry passengers for a fee, carpooling involves riders hitching a ride with drivers who are heading in the same direction. Riders and drivers post messages in chat groups on Telegram stating their pickup points and desired locations, before communicating.
Last week, it was reported that a 25-year-old male driver was arrested for allegedly molesting a Nanyang Technological University (NTU) student while giving her a lift. The student had used Ride Kakis, a carpooling group on Telegram which caters to the 23,000-strong student body as well as staff in NTU.
Ms Ong said she once carpooled with a man in his 40s who, during the journey, tossed a stack of $100 notes in her lap to pay her to “accompany him to dinner at his apartment”.
Besides the group chat for women, Ms Ong has also set up the SG Hitch Blacklist chat group, for riders to report any unsafe activities stemming from the females-only Hitch group.
“It’s a big responsibility but I thought I needed to do something to help other girls,” said Ms Ong, adding that she “blocks” errant users from the group.
Ms Rachael Lim, 19, a regular user of carpooling services, said men have sent her photos of their genitalia.
“There is a ‘girls telegram group’ because some of us are afraid of this, but (some men) infiltrate the groups anyway,” said the polytechnic student, referring to SG Hitch Female Drivers Riders.
Drivers can make only two carpool trips a day, and the amount or benefit collected cannot exceed the expenses incurred for carrying the passenger, a spokesman for the Land Transport Authority (LTA) told The Straits Times (ST).
Those who contravene such requirements may be liable to a maximum fine of $3,000 and a jail term of up to six months.
The Straits Times
