This viral thread shows just how scary cab rides can be for women travelling alone
22.
At 8:45 I had bars. I called my husband. I pretended he was my boss. I told him I’d be back at the hotel at – I asked the driver what time. “Nine”, he said.
“Nine,” I said to my husband. “I will skype you at nine. I promise I won’t be late.” I forced the shake out of my voice.
— A witch, probably. (@kellybarnhill) May 9, 2019
23.
(My poor baby was SO CONFUSED. “Okay?” he said. He told me later that he wanted to call me a weirdo, but when he realized what was going on, now it makes him cry.)
— A witch, probably. (@kellybarnhill) May 9, 2019
24.
I know I should have called the police. The ONLY THING I wanted was to get out of that car. The ONLY THING I wanted was to prevent the situation from escalating. I was in full hostess mode. Anticipating reactions. Smoothing wrinkles. Keeping the edges neat.
— A witch, probably. (@kellybarnhill) May 9, 2019
25.
We arrived.
“Thank you,” I said. “Thank you so much.” My hands shook. I dropped my phone. My legs wobbled. I turned around and went into the hotel and did not look back.— A witch, probably. (@kellybarnhill) May 9, 2019
26.
Finally, I checked my phone. I opened the lyft app to look for instructions to report the driver. Instead there was a reciept. The ride that was supposed to cost 30 bucks cost me 94. In some ways, this was a good thing: fear could now be replaced with anger. Anger is useful.
— A witch, probably. (@kellybarnhill) May 9, 2019
27.
I was in that car, all told, for ninety minutes.
— A witch, probably. (@kellybarnhill) May 9, 2019
28.
Now, there are two possibilities: Either I was in the car for ninety minutes with a predator and it’s a miracle I got out of there unscathed. OR. I was in the car for ninety minutes with a criminal knucklehead who wanted to bilk me into paying the higher fare.
— A witch, probably. (@kellybarnhill) May 9, 2019
29.
The second option may well be true. All that “pretty eyes” nonsense could well be a hamhanded way of distracting the forty-something, not realizing that in the real world THAT SHIT IS CREEPY. The thing is? I have no way of knowing. And the thing is, both options are ATROCIOUS.
— A witch, probably. (@kellybarnhill) May 9, 2019
30.
I called Lyft that night. They REFUNDED THE DIFFERENCE. So I still had to pay thirty bucks to be terrified out of my mind for ninety minutes. Thanks Lyft!
— A witch, probably. (@kellybarnhill) May 9, 2019
31.
My conversation was on Sunday. As of this writing on Thursday, THEY HAVE NOT YET REACHED OUT. The only message was a canned bot message from a helpful AI named Max. No last name. No phone calls. Nothing.
— A witch, probably. (@kellybarnhill) May 9, 2019
32.
When I talked to the gentleman on Sunday, I said “This man should not be driving anyone through your service.”
He said, “We can set it up so he can’t pick YOU up anymore.”
I said, “He needs to not pick up ANYONE.”
He said, “I’ve flagged him for investigation.”— A witch, probably. (@kellybarnhill) May 9, 2019
33.
I told him that this driver also drives for Uber. “We can’t help that,” he said.
— A witch, probably. (@kellybarnhill) May 9, 2019
34.
By the way, this is basically all I’m getting from Lyft right now. This and the email version of this. https://t.co/68v8Zjcqet
— A witch, probably. (@kellybarnhill) May 9, 2019
35.
But here’s the thing: as I sat in the back of that car, as I watched the world get dark and the land stretch away on either side of the road, I realized that it isn’t that I’m vulnerable right now (though I was). We’re vulnerable EVERY TIME.
— A witch, probably. (@kellybarnhill) May 9, 2019
36.
I was in a school in San Diego earlier this month, and the teachers said that parents regularly have Lyfts and Ubers pick up their kids from school, since they never know if they’ll be stuck in traffic. And, I mean, I get it – traffic is bananas. BUT.
— A witch, probably. (@kellybarnhill) May 9, 2019
37.
These are parents who would never DREAM of sending their children to a school where the teachers didn’t have to undergo thorough background checks and vetting. And every other adult. And yet they will let their kids go off in a MOVING VEHICLE with an unvetted adult stranger.
— A witch, probably. (@kellybarnhill) May 9, 2019
38.
And you know what? Prior to this, I might think it’s a little weird, but I wouldn’t have thought too much about it – and didn’t at the time. Uber and Lyft are incredibly convenient, but that convenience comes at a cost.
— A witch, probably. (@kellybarnhill) May 9, 2019
39.
(and it is not lost on me that I’m posting this one day after #StrikeUberLyft. The cost is not only to our safety, but to the dignity of some really awesome drivers as well, who put their own safety on the line and make way too little, in service to their corporate overlords)
— A witch, probably. (@kellybarnhill) May 9, 2019
40.
Extractive capitalism, as it turns out, cares little about the safety of customers and cares even less for the dignity and safety and contributions of the workers that keep the whole system afloat. I’m mad about what happened to me. I’m mad about the whole damn thing.
— A witch, probably. (@kellybarnhill) May 9, 2019
41.
Thank you so much for listening, my angels. It means a lot. I’m logging off and headed to do infinity errands. In my own damn car. I appreciate all of you!
— A witch, probably. (@kellybarnhill) May 9, 2019
A spokesman for Lyft told Indy100:
‘The safety of our community is Lyft’s top priority. The behaviour described is troubling and unacceptable.
Upon becoming aware of the allegations we initiated an investigation, deactivated the driver, and reached out to the passenger to express our support.
We stand ready to assist law enforcement with any investigations into this incident.’
