Actor and comedian Anna Gillcrist posted a thread on Twitter about a scary Lyft driver who harassed her on the ride home from her friend’s bachelorette party. The thread went viral because so many have experienced something similar with Lyft or with Uber.
For women, traveling alone at night is scary and can be dangerous, whether it’s walking home alone or sitting in a car with someone you don’t know. In the case of a car service, you’re at the mercy of the driver, and it’s a really vulnerable position to be in.
In Gillcrist’s case, the Lyft driver did more than just make her uncomfortable byasking if she had a boyfriend. He continued to pester her about her boyfriend and then asked if he was home. He had the doors of the car locked and didn’t unlock them when Gillcrist asked him to.
Last night I took a @lyft home from my friends bachelorette. It was a line, so there were two people in the back seat when I got in. Once they were dropped off, the driver immediately leaned over to me and asks “do you have a boyfriend?”. I paused, and didn’t respond.
— Anna gillcrist (@AnnaGillcrist) April 7, 2019
He asks again, “come on do you have a boyfriend?” I said yes. He continued to ask me questions about what he did, and what I did. Then he asks, “is your boyfriend in town?” I didn’t respond. He asks again. I don’t respond. He pulls up on my street and starts to drive very slowly
— Anna gillcrist (@AnnaGillcrist) April 7, 2019
He looks at me and asks “is your boyfriend home?” I immediately realized the doors were locked and I said “please unlock the doors.” He didn’t. So I pried the lock up, jumped out of the car, and ran to my apartment.
— Anna gillcrist (@AnnaGillcrist) April 7, 2019
Gillcrist contacted Lyft and complained, but they didn’t do much for her.
This morning, I spoke with @lyft on the phone and told them exactly what happened. The man said “Well ma’am we will make sure that that driver is not able to pick you up again.” I explained that that wasn’t good enough, that this man needed to not pick up ANY woman ever again.
— Anna gillcrist (@AnnaGillcrist) April 7, 2019
and he just said “don’t worry he will be reprimanded.” Then he gave me a $5 credit, and told me he would be emailing me the official report. I have received no email. I’ve been sitting on my bed thinking about this for hours and I am fucking angry.
— Anna gillcrist (@AnnaGillcrist) April 7, 2019
I want more than a stupid $5 credit. Your driver put me in a scenario in which I thought I might be kidnapped, raped, or even killed. That pathetic attempt to mask a serious issue is insulting to me and women everywhere who have to deal with this shit on a regular basis.
— Anna gillcrist (@AnnaGillcrist) April 7, 2019
So please let me know when you decide to do the right thing. I’m not going to drop this. @lyft
— Anna gillcrist (@AnnaGillcrist) April 7, 2019
People on Twitter were angry with Lyft on Gillcrist’s behalf. Many also shared similar things that had happened to them in car services.
Hey, @lyft it’s repeated stories like this that make me fearful to use your service, especially alone. Boilerplate written complaints and tiny credits don’t keep us safe. Ban drivers who behave like this. Screen drivers. (also looking at you @Uber)
— Andrea Hangst (@FBALL_Andrea) April 9, 2019
Or, ya know, the service could make a firm statement and report such incidents to police.
— Craig Boedeker (@ZombieArmyCraig) April 9, 2019
Lyft, you had a window of opportunity where Uber’s famously unethical, illegal, and immoral behavior gave you a shot.
You *could have* become the safe pickup alternative, and won.
Maybe there’s still time, but it’s got to be a huge effort and a real one, not marketing.
— Devin Nunes’ immigrant ancestors (@LarryWest42) April 9, 2019
These stories are why I don’t use either service, instead planning alt. means of transportation.
I’m not worried about me, but I’m in a category of people more or less “guaranteed” safe passage in a business that does not ensure that guarantee for all… Why use their business?— Cantrips (@CantripsLoL) April 9, 2019
Thank you for this. I had an experience where an Uber driver wouldn’t stop commenting onmy looks, then proceeded to WAIT OUTSIDE while I went to an open house. When I came out 30 mins later, someone called my name. It was him. He told me to get in and when I ran, he followed me.
— Rachael Maier (@theundergleam) April 9, 2019
I got the same response (“Don’t worry, we won’t match you with him again & we’ll credit your account”). I pleaded with them and tried to explain that this was not an inconvenience. It’s extremely inappropriate behavior that, like you, made me feel my safety was in jeopardy.
— Rachael Maier (@theundergleam) April 9, 2019
Hey @lyft – you think you’re pissed over stock lockups? Try being locked inside a car by one of your own skeezy drivers. I imagine this kinda thing looks awfully unappealing to investors— not to mention customers. Hey Bloomberg— how ‘bout a follow up? @business pic.twitter.com/6V1SD6POEM
— Trey Callaway (@TreyCallaway) April 9, 2019
Sadly, I have a script for that scenario, based mostly on solo international travel, and I shouldn’t. Internationally, my husband works for (insert embassy/ big institution here) and is waiting for me at the destination. I’ll even get on the phone with him (call my VM and BS)
— M Manhart (@ElleQuaintrelle) April 9, 2019
Lyft did eventually respond on Twitter, two days later.
Anna, we are so sorry you experienced this. Behavior like you reported is not allowed on the Lyft platform, and we find reports like this very concerning. We immediately took action as soon as we received your tweet and a member of our safety team will be in touch soon.
— Lyft (@lyft) April 9, 2019
A lot of people were not assuaged by Lyft’s response, though.
Y’all’s shouldn’t have to be publicly shamed into doing the right thing… you should have done it as soon as it was reported the first time.
— Tom Londe (@TomLonde) April 9, 2019
Like what? What EXACTLY are you doing about it?
— Julia Kilcoyne (@ursa_maritima) April 9, 2019
So what’s the plan? $10 credit?
— PSB (@twit_psb) April 9, 2019
You damn well better because there is no way in hell that I’m utilizing a service that clearly doesn’t take the safety of its female customers seriously. Nobody in their right mind does what this driver did for any reason other than to harm someone.
— SusiePsycho2014 (@SusiePsycho2014) April 9, 2019
The turnaround time on their response was not impressive.
Yeah right 2 days later. They’ve just come to London so I think best avoided.
— Kirsty Koo Koo (@kirstyles) April 9, 2019
“As soon as you received her tweet”, or as soon as @JuddApatow and a NUMBER of other people called you out for not responding for TWO DAYS? You were more responsive to a guy whose ride didn’t pick him up at La Guardia… ???? ????
— Judith Benezra (@JudithBenezra) April 9, 2019
And a few people brought up the idea of having the option to choose a female driver.
Please create an option for women to have a woman driver. Why isn’t this a thing yet? I’d be willing to wait longer for a safer ride.
— Kaitlyn (@KaitlynMKE) April 9, 2019
Several female drivers commented that they don’t always feel safe driving at night and choose to work only daytime hours.
I drive for Lyft on occasion. I only drive during the day for my own safety. The conversations I have with women about their safety when driven by men at night is BEYOND alarming. Lyft needs to act on this.
— Kaitlyn (@KaitlynMKE) April 9, 2019
My friend wouldn’t drive after sunset either, and it really compounds the problem, that women drivers don’t feel safe, as well as women customers. I really would love a service for women only but the “reverse sexism” crowd would do their best to ruin it
— April ???? Burn This (@enfysblessed) April 9, 2019
The whole situation is a mess. It really would be great if car service companies like Lyft and Uber could do more to ensure the safety of their passengers. Hopefully, changes will be coming soon.