RAPIDO RIDES 🏍️

 Today I was thinking so much about what to write. Since we are having exams, our minds are occupied with answers rather than new thoughts.

And now I’ve decided to share my experience with RAPIDO RIDES. This has been in my mind to write after I got to read one of my classmate’s experience on her first Rapido ride. She mentioned that it was really scary to take that ride. There was so much hesitation and fear associated with it.

I experienced the same. Earlier, bike rides weren’t available on Rapido. Auto and car were the available options. But for a single person, for a nearer distance, spending a three-digit amount felt big and expensive too.

Gladly, Rapido introduced bike and scooty rides. Even uber has also introduced them recently.Though I was happy, I was equally hesitant to take up the ride.

Because in this society, women are very easily judged—by both known and unknown people.We are raised with these preconceived norms and made to believe that doing a few certain things is against the system.That includes these Rapido rides, sharing a ride with a stranger, or a woman asking for a lift.It took me so many years to understand this, and still it hasn’t been normalized. And we can’t deny the fact that that’s how society is—there isn’t any safety at all.

So the fear is logical and it’s needed to be cautious, but the JUDGMENT BEHIND IT IS WRONG.

Talking about Rapido/uber, drivers have all their details uploaded in the app, and every time we book a ride, we get to see the name, bike name, contact, and help details. Also, if the bike number doesn’t match with the details, we have the option to cancel the ride.

But still, there is that fear that never goes away, especially as a woman, it’s innate.

I remember taking my first bike ride, with so much tension and fear. I was thinking about how people around me would judge me, how to sit with an unknown person, reach the destination safely, and also a bit worried about the way the driver would ride—as in a minute, anything can happen.

But amidst all these thoughts, I completed my ride.

Since then, whenever I get late to college or other places, I opt for this over the bus.We have become best friends😁.

And I’m fortunate enough to say that I haven’t faced any bad experiences. All the rides I’ve taken some bikes weren’t in good condition, or the driver would ride fast—but I’ve never met anyone with bad intentions. I can’t assure that this will continue forever, as in the course of time we might meet such people as well. But the point is, anywhere we go, this risk is present. It can’t be escaped, but faced. When we sense something wrong, we can try our best to act spontaneously and accordingly.

Though having had so many good rides, still post-9 PM bike rides tense me, especially when drivers take shortcuts. But I simultaneously think about what I would do in that case. I know it’s not easy, but we can try. To avoid such situations, I see women prefer crowded transportation after 9 PM ( harsh reality though).

And I see women opting for pink 🩷 scooty as well, and it’s nice to see such initiatives.

These (BIKE RIDES) are new advancements offered to us, so if it’s needed, it’s nothing to be afraid of. Nothing is lost by capturing and utilizing it—leaving all the hesitation, fear, and judgment aside.