Taxi safety: Finland’s women-only services gaining ground

Women-only taxi services are gaining customers in Finland as concerns about sexual harassment and passenger safety lead more women to reconsider travelling alone. Two specialist companies are now operating in the country, while ride-hailing firm Bolt has introduced an option allowing female passengers to request female drivers.

The growing demand comes despite Finland’s reputation as one of the world’s safest countries. For some women, travelling home in a taxi after a night out has become an experience they would rather avoid unless they know who is behind the wheel.

Why women in Finland are turning to female taxi drivers

A survey carried out in Helsinki and Espoo found that 43 per cent of women questioned had experienced safety-related problems on public transport, compared with 30 per cent of men. Some women have responded by cutting back on public transport journeys or avoiding travelling alone when they feel particularly vulnerable.

Concerns about taxi safety have also intensified following an investigation by Finnish public broadcaster Yle. More than 100 criminal reports involving suspected sexual offences by taxi drivers have been filed in Helsinki since the industry was deregulated in 2018. One particularly disturbing case involved a driver convicted of raping a passenger who was allowed to continue working for almost two years before his taxi licence was revoked.

Yle reported that Helsinki recorded 40 criminal reports involving suspected sexual offences by taxi drivers in 2023. The figures concern reported allegations, rather than proven offences in every case, and do not mean that most taxi journeys are unsafe.

Four friends launch women-only taxi company

Katariina Kainulainen and three friends decided to do something about their own concerns after realising they had become reluctant to use taxis, particularly when travelling alone at night. Their company, WOWO, short for Women to Women, began operating in early 2026. Customers book through an app and are matched with female drivers.

Women can travel with children under 14, while the company’s standard rules restrict journeys to female passengers and eligible children. Its website also explains arrangements for members travelling with a male companion.

Kainulainen told Spanish news outlet elDiario.es that the founders initially expected most customers to use the service to get home after an evening out. Demand has proved broader than that. Women also book journeys to airports, business appointments and medical consultations.

WOWO does not employ its drivers directly. Instead, female drivers work independently or through other taxi companies while taking bookings through the service. The company says its purpose is to provide another transport option for women, rather than suggest that every male taxi driver poses a risk.

Female taxi drivers have safety concerns too

Passenger safety is only one part of the issue. Female drivers have also described unwanted physical contact and harassment while working alone with male customers.

Tara Oinonen, who drives for WOWO, told Yle that one passenger grabbed her head and kissed her on the lips. On another occasion, a passenger sitting behind her touched her inappropriately. Several incidents involving drivers have been taken to court, according to the reporting.

Finding enough female drivers has nevertheless proved challenging. Women make up a relatively small proportion of the taxi workforce, and WOWO’s founders initially struggled to recruit drivers. Recommendations between women already working in the industry helped the company find more recruits.

A second dedicated service, Naistaxi, has also entered the Finnish market. It offers rides with verified female drivers and promotes airport transfers, journeys with children and pre-booked trips home at night. Both companies use booking systems to connect female passengers with female drivers, rather than relying on a request made after a journey has already started.

Are women-only taxis legal in Finland?

The business model has attracted criticism from some people who question whether excluding male passengers amounts to discrimination. WOWO’s founders anticipated the objections and contacted Finland’s Equality Ombudsman when setting up their business. According to elDiario.es, the ombudsman considered women-only taxi services permissible because some women feel unsafe in taxis and some have experienced sexual violence during journeys.

The reasoning is that providing an additional option for people who feel vulnerable can be justified by passenger safety concerns. Finland is also moving towards tighter regulation of its taxi industry. Following criticism of the rules introduced in 2018, the government has pursued reforms intended to improve driver qualifications, oversight and consumer confidence.

Women-only services are not a substitute for effective licensing, enforcement or action against offenders. Their growth does, however, demonstrate that some passengers are prepared to choose a specialised service when they feel more comfortable travelling with a female driver.

Women-only taxi services are spreading elsewhere in Europe

Finland is not the first European country to experiment with the idea, and similar services have been reported in several other markets. In Spain, Uber announced a female-driver option in six cities in February 2026: Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Malaga, Valencia and Palma de Mallorca. Passengers can request a female driver, although availability may vary.

• Belgium has also joined the trend. Bolt launched its Women for Women option in Brussels in March 2026, allowing female passengers to book journeys with female drivers in advance.
• France has seen similar developments, including Uber’s female-driver option in Paris.
• EWN previously reported on the service in its article, Uber passengers can opt for women-only drivers.
• Portugal’s Pinker service was another early example of a dedicated women-only taxi platform.
• Ireland has also entered the market. Dublin-based LadyCab launched in December 2025, with plans to expand its service.

Although these services operate in different ways, they share a common idea: giving women more choice over who drives them, particularly when travelling alone.