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Could women-only taxi service catch on in the US? SheRides finds out

NEW YORK, NY - JULY 15:  A woman tries to hail a taxicab in the rain on 5th Avenue in Midtown Manhattan on July 15, 2014 in New York City. A torrential rainstorm poared down, adding to an already above average July rainfall. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JULY 15: A woman tries to hail a taxicab in the rain on 5th Avenue in Midtown Manhattan on July 15, 2014 in New York City.
(
John Moore/Getty Images
)
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Could women-only taxi service catch on in the US? SheRides finds out

The service is called SheRides in New York City and SheTaxis in Westchester County and Long Island and it’ll debut on Sept. 16, the New York Times reports. The service is like Uber or Lyft and uses an app to connect drivers with passengers, except for one big difference: SheRides cars are driven by women drivers and intended only for women passengers.

The company is started by Stella Mateo, a mother of two daughters who wants to equal the playing field for female drivers in a traditionally male-dominated industry, as well as fill a consumer need. Only 5 percent of for-hire drivers in New York City are women.

New York is just the latest city to boast a service like this. India, England and other places around the world have long launched successful for-women, by-women car services.

Are there legal issues to services like SheRides in America? If you are a woman, would you feel more comfortable using a car service or rideshare service with a woman behind the wheel?

Guests:

Winnie Hu, New York Times reporter who's written about the new livery car service

Robert Duston, Partner in the law firm, Saul Ewing based in DC. He represents businesses in employment and labor law with an emphasis on anti-discrimination and civil rights matters