Taxi safety: Finland’s women-only services gaining ground

Women-only taxi services in Finland are growing in popularity as concerns over sexual harassment and passenger safety prompt more women to seek safer travel options. Two specialist companies, WOWO and Bolt, are now operating in the country, with Bolt introducing an option for female passengers to request female drivers. A survey in Helsinki and Espoo revealed that 43% of women had experienced safety-related problems on public transport, compared to 30% of men.

The issue of taxi safety has been further exacerbated by an investigation by Finnish public broadcaster Yle, which found over 100 criminal reports involving suspected sexual offences by taxi drivers since the industry was deregulated in 2018. Despite these challenges, WOWO has gained traction, with women using the service for journeys to airports, business appointments, and medical consultations.

The company emphasizes that their aim is to provide another transport option for women, rather than implying that all male taxi drivers are a risk. However, female drivers working for WOWO have also reported instances of unwanted physical contact and harassment while working alone with male customers.

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