Tendency to share offline-ride put riders at risk

Ahmed Nur: Mobile app-based ride sharing service has got popularity in the country but the drivers are willing to take passengers without app or offline-ride.

A good numbers of motorcycle riders were seen taking passengers without using mobile-app.

There is an allegation that bike-drivers don’t want to response ride sharing app in Dhaka. Even, some of them take too much time to reach the pick-point. Sometimes, the bikers reject riders accepting ride.

Vising capital’s Farmgate area, risingbd reporters find that drivers of app-based ride sharing service are waiting for passengers without using apps. They are moving to the destination of passengers after making deal.

Jubayer Ahmed, a user of ride-sharing apps said, he wanted to go to Mirpur-10 following an emergency. He was seen arguing with the motor-biker over rent.

Following the issue, he said, “I tried a lot to get a ride-sharing service but no one responded. That’s why I made a deal the driver without using apps due to my emergency.”  

Similar picture was seen in front of Bashundhara Shopping center.

Wising anonymity, a driver said that they are doing so to get passengers quickly avoiding security risk.

Alimuzzaman, Deputy Commissioner (Cyber Crime) under the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) Unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police told risingbd, “Such type of ride-sharing is risky. It is almost impossible to track the riders and drivers. On the other hand, if the users take the service using apps, then police can take action when any untoward incident takes place. Besides, offline-ride sharing can occur vehicle stealing, mugging and killing.”

Syeda Nabina Mahbub, marketing manager of ride-sharing service Pathao said, “We alerted drivers over the issue. If they take the risk, then we have nothing to do.”

Shehjami Khalil, marketing director of another ride-sharing app said, “Using apps, we monitor the movements of drivers. If anyone breaks the rules, we take action against them.”

risingbd/Dhaka/July 19, 2019/Nur/Nasim