Didi Chuxing blasted over curfew on women using relaunched Hitch service
- UberPool-like service will restart this month on a trial basis after two women passengers were killed in 2018
- But female passengers will not be able to arrange rides after 8pm
This article originally appeared in Inkstone, a daily digest of six China-focused stories.
Over the past year, the company has been criticised for failing to protect its female customers. It suspended its UberPool-like service, Hitch, in August 2018 after the deaths of two women, which plunged the company into crisis.
On Wednesday, Didi said it would relaunch Hitch this month – with improved safety features – on a trial basis in seven cities. Men will be able to use the service from 5am to 11pm, while women can use it from 5am to 8pm.
The announcement prompted outrage on social media, with many women complaining the tech company was restricting women’s freedoms.
“Women getting hurt only leads to women losing their freedom,” said one of the most liked comments on Weibo. “It shows we are living in a patriarchal society.”
