Jakarta, Indonesia - Female motorcycle taxi drivers in headscarves zig-zag through heavy traffic in the Indonesian capital, as the latest two-wheeled transport service for women makes a dent in the male-dominated world of ride-hailing apps in the Muslim nation.
A flurry of new motorcycle taxi options have in the past year appeared in the metropolis of 10 million, led by popular service Go-Jek, giving Indonesia's growing middle class a greater choice of transport to get through some of world's worst traffic congestion.
The services - many inspired by ride-sharing app Uber and accessible on smartphones - are a challenge to traditional motorcycle taxis in Indonesia, known as “ojeks”, which are ubiquitous but have drawn criticism with their dishevelled, dangerous riders and unpredictable pricing.
Several services with women riders entered the market in 2015 after years of growing piety in Indonesia, which has the world's biggest Muslim population, and amid heightened safety concerns following reports of attacks on women by male motorcycle taxi drivers.
They are in part designed with religious sensitivities in mind, as an increasing number of Muslim women wear headscarves and follow strict interpretations of Islam that forbid close contact with the opposite sex, except between married couples.
Evilita Adriani, co-founder of motorcycle taxi company Ojek Syari, said: “The need for transportation for women is huge, especially in big cities where rates of crime and sexual harassment are very high.”
Popularly known by its nickname “Ojesy”, it is the service that aims most clearly at devout female passengers, requiring its riders to be Muslim women wearing headscarves and loose-fitting clothes.
BOOK ON WHATSAPP
Ojesy riders can currently only be hailed by a phone call or through mobile messaging service WhatsApp, but the service is also developing an app that was being tested out in December.
The service, which began in Indonesia's second-biggest city Surabaya in March 2015 before expanding across the main island of Java, only accepts female passengers or children.
Nurlaila, a Surabaya housewife who goes by one name, said: “I feel more comfortable sharing a ride with a fellow Muslim woman.”
She uses the service to take her children to school - a common practice in the country where whole families often travel squashed together on a motorcycle.
The company says business is booming - after starting in March with Adriani as its only rider, it now has 350.
Other motorcycle taxi companies vying for a stake in the female market include app-based service LadyJek, whose drivers dress in pink jackets and helmets, and Sister-Ojek, a start-up that began operations earlier this year with capital of just $100 (R1550).
Indonesia stands out for the number of motorcyle taxi services aimed at women it has, with female riders relatively rare in many developing nations where the mode of transport is popular.
SECURITY MEASURES
The trend for motorcycle taxi-hailing services started in earnest in 2015 with Go-Jek in Jakarta, a general service for anybody wishing to book a motorcycle ride, which was quickly followed by others such as GrabBike and Blu-jek.
The women-only services are slightly more expensive, but insist they have better security measures.
Calls have been growing for heightened security after reports of women being stalked and harassed by male motorcycle taxi drivers, while the rape of a young woman in India by an Uber driver also added to safety concerns about ride-hailing services.
LadyJek drivers can activate a loud alarm if they are attacked or feel threatened, while Ojesy and Sister-Ojek only operate between sunrise and sunset.
However, the services are unlikely to overtake major competitors such as Go-Jek, as many women in Indonesia, where the majority practise a moderate form of Islam, have few qualms about taking a motorcycle taxi driven by a man.
The services also try to make themselves attractive to riders, with Ojesy allowing Muslim housewives and university students to work part-time.
Housewife Endang Kartini, 38, said working for Ojesy part-time allowed her to buy cosmetics and give her children pocket money, without interfering with other activities.
“I can still attend Muslim prayer groups,” she said.
AFP
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