study shows cities with ride-hailing services report lower rates of sexual assault

Following its introduction in 2010, Uber has facilitated the expansion of ride-hailing into a leading form of transportation in numerous urban centers. This innovation has eliminated the need for travelers to signal for taxis, hoping to be noticed. Furthermore, even for city residents who own vehicles, ride-hailing offers an alternative to driving under the influence and alleviates the challenge of locating parking, a situation often likened to a stroke of luck.

Despite substantial growth, companies like Uber and Lyft have faced various criticisms and controversies. Among these concerns are instances involving drivers accused of sexual assault or other criminal activities. However, our research yields a noteworthy conclusion: ride-hailing services actually contribute to a reduction in the incidence of sexual assault.

Our study, titled “The Deterrent Effect of Ride-Sharing on Sexual Assault and Investigation of Situational Contingencies,” examined data from New York City in 2015, encompassing Uber transaction records and crime reports. The findings indicate an inverse relationship between Uber pickups and reported rape incidents – as the number of Uber pickups increases in a neighborhood, the likelihood of a reported rape in that area decreases. Specifically, we estimate that a 1% rise in Uber pickups correlates with a decrease of as many as 48 reported sexual assault cases annually in NYC.

A more detailed analysis reveals further compelling insights. We discovered that ride-hailing demonstrates a greater impact in reducing rape cases in locations and circumstances where transportation options are limited, specifically:

• in areas experiencing fewer taxi pickups.
• within the outer boroughs of New York City (Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and The Bronx) as opposed to Manhattan.
• in neighborhoods with a higher proportion of nonwhite residents.
• during nighttime hours.
• in areas with a greater concentration of establishments serving alcohol, particularly on Friday and Saturday nights compared to weekdays.
• in areas with a higher overall incidence of other crimes.

How can this be explained? How can ride-hailing potentially decrease, rather than increase, reported sexual assault incidents? The explanation is straightforward: it assists individuals who may be vulnerable by facilitating their swift and safe transport to secure locations, such as their homes.

Alternatives like waiting for a taxi on the street, walking a considerable distance to a subway station, or traveling alone on the subway late at night can be undesirable. Ride-hailing provides a means to avoid these situations. Our data demonstrates that wait times for Uber are significantly shorter than those for traditional taxis, and Uber is more readily available in the outskirts of a city. In 2015, Uber accounted for approximately 23% of rides in the outer boroughs of NYC, double the 12% share in Manhattan, and reaching as high as 91% in areas furthest from Manhattan (for example, Bensonhurst, Queens Village, and Cambria Heights).

This is a direct result of Uber’s mobile platform, which efficiently matches supply (drivers) with demand (passengers) in real-time. The platform precisely identifies the locations of both passengers and drivers, enabling immediate connection and directing drivers to the passenger’s exact location. Furthermore, dynamic pricing allows drivers to respond quickly to fluctuating market demands, ensuring a close alignment between supply and demand.

This real-time matching and dynamic pricing capability also clarifies why the crime-deterrent effect of ride-hailing is more pronounced outside Manhattan. Finding a taxi on the street is challenging for passengers, and conversely, it is difficult for taxi drivers to locate passengers in these areas. Taxi drivers typically concentrate their efforts around high-traffic pickup locations (airports, train stations, hotels), making it uneconomical to operate in the outer boroughs. Ride-sharing effectively bridges this transportation gap, enabling potential crime victims to readily travel to their homes.

We have also observed this trend in other U.S. cities between 2005 and 2017. Our findings indicate that the introduction of Uber service in a city is associated with a decrease in reported rape incidents of up to 6%.

What implications do these findings hold for policymakers? Our research underscores the interconnectedness of public safety and transportation, and highlights that dependable, accessible transportation infrastructure can serve as a deterrent to crime.

Many areas with disadvantaged populations experience persistent crime and often lack adequate public transportation. As previously noted, ride-hailing plays a more significant role in crime prevention in the outer boroughs or in economically challenged areas. Our research suggests that improvements to transportation infrastructure in these areas can yield numerous benefits for residents, including enhanced safety and security.

Some local governments are beginning to implement on-demand transportation services to address this need. These services differ from traditional bus routes by allowing passengers to request rides from any location, with a bus dispatched to provide transportation. Universities also frequently operate safe-ride programs for students on and around campus. These flexible transportation systems can be more cost-effective for municipalities while simultaneously contributing to crime deterrence.

Companies seeking to provide reliable transportation for customers and employees can benefit from IT-enabled transportation platforms, where innovative technology startups can contribute. For example, healthcare organizations have partnered with major ride-hailing companies to ensure patients have access to transportation to and from medical appointments (such as Uber Health and Lyft Health).

It is important to acknowledge that ride-hailing drivers can, in some instances, pose a risk. We are not suggesting that they are immune to committing crimes; however, responsible drivers working with Uber or Lyft may also be instrumental in protecting individuals from other potential threats.