A brand new taxi service has officially begun operating in Medellin, with the intention of providing safe and reliable transport exclusively for women.
The new service, Fem Taxi, will allow the women of Medellin to request one of the female-friendly taxis at any time of the night or day and be assured that they will travel in safety on the city’s streets.
Fem Taxi will be denoted by a pink T located on the dashboard of the vehicle and will seek to improve the security situation of women in the city of Medellin.
The initiative originally came from the private sector, but has since been given the support of Medellin transport network and the secretariat for women of Medellin.
There are currently 100 Fem Taxis available, with the intention of expanding the taxi cooperative to 1,400 cars and drivers by mid 2012.
Maria Eugenia Fernandez is the only female driver so far hired to the Fem Taxi service and she says she feels proud to be associated with the initiative, also known as Pink Taxis for the Pink T located on the vehicle.
Fernandez says that the drivers being hired for the program “have been receiving workshops, talks and training regarding women.” Despite being the only female driver in the fleet so far, Fernandez hopes that many more women drivers will soon become involved.
The company will only hire drivers that have been carefully screened and that have an outstanding work history and no criminal record.
Fem Taxi user Mayra Torrente, “I think it’s a great idea, because women are more vulnerable when it comes to facing risks.”
