It’s late at night, and you just wrapped up an evening out with friends. You order a ride home, but a wave of unease washes over you as an unfamiliar car pulls up. Your instincts scream at you to be cautious. What if there was an option that gave you more peace of mind?
Last week, after many years of being a religious user of Bolt, I realized that they had a Women-Only option. I guess I haven’t been keen, always clicked on the first option. This time, I tried out the Women-Only and Sylvia pulled, a kind and charming lady who gave me the smoothest ride home with a motherly conversation here and there.
Bolt’s Women-Only ride option is a game-changer in Kenya’s ride-hailing industry. This feature allows passengers to request female drivers, offering an extra layer of safety and comfort—especially for women who may feel vulnerable using public transport or standard ride-hailing services.
Related Content: You Can Now Add Trusted Contacts Of Friends And Family To Your Bolt App For Safety
Why This Feature Matters
Let’s be real: Safety concerns in ride-hailing aren’t just hypothetical; they’re a lived reality for many women. Stories of harassment, uncomfortable situations, and even more serious incidents have made women think twice before booking a ride alone. With the ability to request a female driver, passengers—particularly women—can ride with greater confidence.
Kenya’s taxi industry has long been male-dominated, but Bolt’s initiative creates more opportunities for women to join and thrive in the gig economy. It’s not just about safety—it’s about economic empowerment, fostering a space where female drivers can work comfortably and serve passengers who prefer a woman behind the wheel.
Sometimes, a little peace of mind makes all the difference. Many female passengers report feeling more at ease with a female driver, knowing they can ride without unwanted comments or awkward interactions. This feature ensures that personal comfort isn’t just a luxury—it’s a standard.
Beyond safety, this feature is a statement: Women belong everywhere—even in industries traditionally dominated by men. Encouraging more female drivers not only diversifies the sector but also challenges long-held stereotypes.
Why safety is the center of Bolt’s operation
The safety of both drivers and passengers has been a continuous topic of discussion over the past few years. As a result, Bolt continuously works round the clock to implement measures that ensure that their stakeholders are comfortable.
Some time back, safety complaints were raised against some of the drivers affiliated with Bolt, and in a move to address the issue, Bolt took some stringent measures to ensure that riders feel safe at all times.
The first action that Bolt took was to purge over 5,000 drivers from their system for not adhering to the company’s clearly-laid safety guidelines. This means that the said drivers lost the privilege of ever operating under this popular app.
Bolt has also committed Ksh 14 billion over three years to support raising awareness of the Bolt safety features and scaling preventative measures to help prevent safety cases before they happen.
Bolt’s Safety Team of over 500 people works relentlessly towards Bolt’s safety goals. Safety Specialists and Experts come together to tackle some of the most complex challenges in ride-hailing. Based in Bolt’s Tallinn HQ, the team’s core includes Safety Experts specially trained in product development, engineering, and operations.
Related Content: When Bolt Purged 5,000 Drivers For Not Following Safety Rules
