Woman's terrifying viral Lyft story highlights the dangers of ride-sharing while female.
In case you haven't experienced it firsthand, being a woman is pretty weird. You never know when a totally normal day can suddenly turn into a horror film.
This is what happened recently to a woman named Anna Gillcrist, who was just trying to get home safely from her friend's bachelorette party. Unfortunately, things took a turn for the terrifying when her Lyft driver decided to make advances at her.
Last night I took a @lyft home from my friends bachelorette. It was a line, so there were two people in the back seat when I got in. Once they were dropped off, the driver immediately leaned over to me and asks “do you have a boyfriend?”. I paused, and didn’t respond.
— Anna gillcrist (@AnnaGillcrist) April 7, 2019
"Last night I took a @lyft home from my friends bachelorette," she writes. "It was a line, so there were two people in the back seat when I got in. Once they were dropped off, the driver immediately leaned over to me and asks 'do you have a boyfriend?'. I paused, and didn’t respond."
Then things got even worse as he continued to aggressively question her.
He asks again, “come on do you have a boyfriend?” I said yes. He continued to ask me questions about what he did, and what I did. Then he asks, “is your boyfriend in town?” I didn’t respond. He asks again. I don’t respond. He pulls up on my street and starts to drive very slowly
— Anna gillcrist (@AnnaGillcrist) April 7, 2019
And worse...
He looks at me and asks “is your boyfriend home?” I immediately realized the doors were locked and I said “please unlock the doors.” He didn’t. So I pried the lock up, jumped out of the car, and ran to my apartment.
— Anna gillcrist (@AnnaGillcrist) April 7, 2019
Fortunately, Gillcrist was able to get home safe. But when she took her complaint to Lyft the next day, they were horrendously unhelpful.
This morning, I spoke with @lyft on the phone and told them exactly what happened. The man said “Well ma’am we will make sure that that driver is not able to pick you up again.” I explained that that wasn’t good enough, that this man needed to not pick up ANY woman ever again.
— Anna gillcrist (@AnnaGillcrist) April 7, 2019
and he just said “don’t worry he will be reprimanded.” Then he gave me a $5 credit, and told me he would be emailing me the official report. I have received no email. I’ve been sitting on my bed thinking about this for hours and I am fucking angry.
— Anna gillcrist (@AnnaGillcrist) April 7, 2019
A $5 CREDIT LYFT ARE YOU SERIOUS?!?!?!?!? (They were.) But Gillcrist is serious, too.
I want more than a stupid $5 credit. Your driver put me in a scenario in which I thought I might be kidnapped, raped, or even killed. That pathetic attempt to mask a serious issue is insulting to me and women everywhere who have to deal with this shit on a regular basis.
— Anna gillcrist (@AnnaGillcrist) April 7, 2019
Justifiably, she is furious with Lyft for allowing a predator to continue working for them, which puts other women's safety at risk.
So please let me know when you decide to do the right thing. I’m not going to drop this. @lyft
— Anna gillcrist (@AnnaGillcrist) April 7, 2019
"So please let me know when you decide to do the right thing," she writes. "I'm not going to drop this."
Her story, which scarily is not uncommon for women who take ride-share apps, has gone viral. And Twitter users are jumping in to offer support and encourage Lyft to take action.
@lyft At minimum that driver should be fired.
— Jarrod Lombardo (@jaberwocky) April 9, 2019
What the hell is wrong with people? No one should have to experience this.
— Jason Ferguson (@JasonFerguson08) April 9, 2019
So sorry you were in that scary position, I am outraged for you. Disappointing and frankly irresponsible response from @lyft. Just after the company made a whole hubbub about women’s history month with that nationwide campaign, too. Do the real work ffs.
— Natasha Ishak 🇮🇩 (@npishak) April 9, 2019
Some are even threatening to shut down their own accounts.
@lyft i’m about to shut down my account unless you do what right here. Your response so far is completely disgusting
— Liza Persky (@LizaPersky) April 9, 2019
And other women are sharing their own harrowing experiences with rideshare apps.
i had a lyft driver do something similar. tried to touch me, asked if he could wait while i showered? told lyft & i got an email a few days later offering me credit for the drive (that would expire in 30 days) & the same promise that he wouldn’t pick me up again. I’ve been scared
— meow. (@iam_andge) April 9, 2019
I just read your story I had a situation with Uber as I’m a female driver and was threatened with a gun from a sexually aggressive male passenger and was never helped. These companies need to put actions towards incidents like these and not turn a blind eye, who knows what could
— lol (@callmemagen) April 9, 2019
happen in a blink of an eye and these companies who literally have your safety and even lives in their hands are just brushing it off like no harm no foul. No, you fight till you get what’s owed. I’m so sorry that happened, I have my story as my pinned tweet. Fight for all the
— lol (@callmemagen) April 9, 2019
people these companies have turned a blind eye too. Sending love your way ❤️
— lol (@callmemagen) April 9, 2019
Let's hope Lyft and Uber get these messages and take some serious initiative to step up their safety policies and do more to keep sexual predators out of their drivers seats, thankyouverymuch.
from Upworthy https://u.pw/2XgBYmv
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