In Mexico City, where gender-based violence casts a long shadow over daily life, a mother-daughter duo is steering a quiet revolution in urban transportation. Ruth Rojas, a seasoned taxi driver, and her daughter Karina Alba have launched AmorrAs, a women-only taxi cooperative designed to shield female passengers and drivers from the pervasive threats that plague the city’s streets. This initiative emerges amid alarming statistics: nine out of ten women report experiencing violence in public spaces, according to local advocacy groups. Rojas herself has faced harrowing encounters, including assaults that left her fearing for her life while navigating the chaotic traffic of one of the world’s largest metropolises.

The service operates with a fleet of compact cars, often painted in distinctive colors, and caters exclusively to women, offering a safer alternative to mainstream ridesharing giants. Riders summon taxis via a dedicated app or phone line, ensuring vetted female drivers and real-time tracking features that prioritize security. As detailed in a recent report by CNN, the cooperative was born from personal tragedy—Rojas endured brutal attacks, including one where she was robbed and beaten, prompting her to rally other women drivers into a supportive network.

A Legacy of Safety Measures

This isn’t Mexico’s first foray into gender-segregated transport. Back in 2009, the city of Puebla introduced pink taxis driven by women for female passengers, complete with GPS and emergency alarms, as chronicled in historical accounts from Americas Quarterly. That pilot aimed to curb harassment, a persistent issue in a country where femicide rates remain among the highest globally. Similarly, Mexico City’s metro system has long enforced women-only cars, a policy expanded to 24/7 operation to combat sexual assaults, with posts on X highlighting its popularity among female commuters for reducing daily risks.

Building on these precedents, AmorrAs integrates modern technology to enhance reliability. The cooperative’s app includes panic buttons linked to emergency services and peer alerts, drawing inspiration from global ride-hailing innovations while addressing local vulnerabilities. Recent discussions on X, including sentiments from users praising the service’s zero-incident record since its launch, underscore a growing demand for such tailored solutions. One post from a women’s empowerment account noted how these taxis empower drivers economically, fostering community support in a male-dominated industry.

Challenges in a High-Risk Environment

Yet, operating in Mexico City presents formidable hurdles. Female cabbies like those in AmorrAs routinely contend with flat tires in unsafe neighborhoods or threats from rival male drivers, as Rojas experienced during a CNN-filmed ride where a puncture forced a slow crawl to a repair shop. Broader data from Mezha reveals that thousands of women disappear annually in Mexico, amplifying the urgency of initiatives like this. The cooperative’s founders emphasize training in self-defense and vehicle maintenance, turning potential victims into resilient entrepreneurs.

Competition from established players like Uber adds another layer of complexity. While Uber has introduced safety features such as ride-sharing options and background checks, critics argue they fall short in regions with endemic violence. AmorrAs positions itself as a grassroots rival, charging competitive fares while building trust through word-of-mouth and social media buzz. X posts from recent weeks, including one from a local radio account sharing stories of rebel female cabbies, reflect a surge in public support, with some users calling for government subsidies to expand the model.

Looking Toward Broader Impact

As Mexico prepares for events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup, transportation leaders are eyeing scalable solutions. A June 2025 update from Vallarta Daily noted airport taxi groups, including women-led fleets, gearing up to handle millions of visitors, potentially integrating AmorrAs-like features for enhanced safety. Industry insiders suggest this could inspire tech startups to develop AI-driven safety protocols, such as predictive analytics for high-risk routes.

For now, AmorrAs represents a beacon of innovation, blending technology with community solidarity. Rojas and Alba’s efforts not only provide safe rides but also challenge systemic inequalities, proving that in the fight against gender violence, localized tech solutions can drive meaningful change. As one X user poignantly posted, being a woman in this line of work is a high-risk endeavor, but collectives like this are rewriting the rules, one fare at a time.