High demand for Jakarta’s women-only motorcycle taxis

Transportation services in Jakarta catering exclusively to women are taking off, with female-only motorcycle taxi companies such as Ladyjek and Sister Ojek reportedly in high demand less than four months after starting operations.

Jakarta skyline. Image by The Diary of a Hotel Addict / CC BY 2.0

Since its October 2015 launch, the Ladyjek mobile app has been downloaded about 50,000 times, with hundreds using the service every day, according to the company. Similar services include Ojesy and Ojek Syari, which offers hijab-wearing drivers. The rape of a woman in a public minivan sparked uproar in Jakarta last June, but critics say the government has done little to ensure the safety of women on public transport. Read more: Jakarta.coconuts.co