RIDE resembles the San Francisco-based UBER and Sao Paulo-based Easy Taxi in such a way that uses information technology to connect drivers with riders.
ADDIS ABABA (Semonegna)–Ethiopia is slowly introducing a new set of private taxi companies which a number of women are hoping to take advantage of. Phone and online services are opening up the market — traditionally dominated by men.
One year ago Eskedar Teklegiorgis to take advantage of the Ethiopian government’s offer for tax-free importation of taxis to Addis Ababa and imported one to start taxi service business. She registered her taxi with RIDE, a taxi hailing company and employed a driver as she had another job. The driver was bringing her 500 Ethiopian Birr per day. But, after a few months, Eskedar realized that it was worth giving up her job and taking the taxi’s wheel herself.
“Driving the car and getting money – very easy, very simple. The people really appreciate me,” says Eskedar who is the only female driver among the 800 registered by RIDE so far. But she doesn’t mind being the only woman in this business. On the other hand, Eskedar hopes that the government will soon open up another tax-free regime which specifically aims allowing more women to join her.
Launched in December 2014 by Hybrid Designs, a software development company based in the Addis Ababa, RIDE resembles the San Francisco-based UBER and Sao Paulo-based Easy Taxi in such a way that uses information technology to connect drivers with riders.
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RIDE has evolved from just SMS-focused requests to offer a full suite of options from web apps to a call center over the three years time since its inception and launched mobile app and call center July 2017.
As Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa has become a hot spot in Africa hosting major continental and international conferences in addition to its being the host of the headquarters of African Union, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) as well as various African and international organizations, the significance role such companies as RIDE will play in the city’s transportation is undeniable.
RIDE, as well as its parent company Hybrid Designs, was founded by an IT professional & entrepreneur, Samrawit Fikru. Samrawit is one of the Ethiopian women who have created and succeeded in their own career through determination and hard work. You can read more about Samrawit Fikru on MUTESI.