Just this past year my family had it's first experience with Uber, a ride service. This taxi alternative worked out great for us while in Columbus for a wedding and concert weekend. When you don't want to deal with parking hassles and you really don't know the territory this is a great way to travel. I will warn you it's not cheap. Mind you I've not ridden in a TAXI lately so it could be comparable in price. Sadly letting a stranger from any car service do the driving can be risky. We found some tips from Defense Ninja to help keep you safe in this situation.
We've all heard the tragic stories about women who get into an Uber or other ride service alone and are assaulted or, worse, never make it home. As the weather warms up and the pandemic ends, we’ll all (hopefully) start going out more and more. Here are a few things to keep in mind before going out, especially if you plan to use a ride service:
- Keep your phone fully charged. You’ll need it to call for help if there’s a problem.
- Confirm the driver’s identity before getting in the car. Wait for them to say your name instead of just assuming it’s them because the car looks the same as described.
- Check whether the car handles are engaged. While the door is open and before you have crawled inside, make sure there are no child safety features engaged that might keep you locked in unwantedly.
- Ladies, keep a pair of flats in your bag. And also a can of pepper spray or another type of protective tool.
- Trust your instincts. If any part of you feels alarmed, walk away and cancel the ride. The cancellation fee is worth your well being.
(tips courtesy of: Defense Ninjas)