Let me start by why the idea appeals so strongly to the Delhiite in me. One, we really have no space left to endlessly accommodate the ever increasing traffic. I have started to set out for any destination - if not taking the metro - expecting some scrape or slight bump at the very least so that when it happens I remain unperturbed. And those of you who don't agree, I advise a change of eyewear or that you look up from that iPad or phone or whatever device is keeping you riveted. So, any service that proposes to reduce the number of cars on the road is a service worth considering. You just fill the same car with more people.
Two, no new physical infrastructure needs to be created for this to work. That itself is a big plus for me. If you drive past the Vasant Vihar flyover in south Delhi (many residents of the area curse the guy who conceived, designed and executed this, every day) at any time of the day and night, you will be convinced that the further we keep these guys from decisions that affect us daily, the better off we are.
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Then, it is cheaper and more convenient than many other modes. So, a ride between Delhi and Dehradun can cost you Rs 750 or so. That's cheaper and easier than the train or the bus (one can't compete with air since it is a half-hour flight). No reaching the bus or train station. You can get picked up at a convenient and pre-decided spot. The cars are air-conditioned and mid-sized in general. Of course you still have to go through the charmless eight-hour drive on scary Indian roads but it sure beats driving yourself for several hours on scary and charmless Indian roads. So dull is the landscape, that it is not uncommon to hear of accidents because people fall asleep behind the wheel.
And chances of this, too, are reduced if you are sharing the ride. In fact, with a bit of luck, you might just have some good company and meet someone worth chatting to, all the way.
And this brings me to another massive plus. You meet new people - in real not online. I really like the idea of real, live people. Towns like Dehradun and Pune have a truckload of students going to and fro all the time - and for me they translate into many column ideas.
Of course, India being the way it is, not everyone one meets is desirable or for women even safe. The ride-sharing companies - or at least the one I use - has set in place some tight filters to make sure the person giving you the ride is not actually taking you for a ride. People offering and taking rides have to register, can exchange information and can actually choose who they ride with. You figure for yourself whether you want to go ahead. On the app, there were 12 people leaving at different times from Gurgaon to Noida the next day and you can just hop on and since there were so many options, you could pick and choose. Also, you can refer to past reviews. After a ride, both the driver and the rider can post reviews of each other that are publicly available. So both sides would hopefully be in their best behaviour. It may, in fact, be a safer option than a cab driver - usually illiterate and not always reliable.
It may still be a while before single women travelling alone gather courage to try this but students, young professionals, couples and small business owners are lapping it up already.
But again - just like with the metro - this is not only for people like them. People like us, can and ought to give it a try too. And who knows, you may just like the experience.