SafeKab taxi app to change how women travel in Inverness
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To celebrate the upcoming launch of SafeKab, Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey MP Drew Hendry invited local women to a focus group to share their thoughts on safety in the Highlands.
Women from various organisations, including Women’s Aid, RASASH, the Young Women’s Movement and the Street Pastors, joined the meeting to share their thoughts and experiences. The focus group discussed everything from CCTV on the Inverness Market Brae steps, to how to get more women into politics globally.
The SafeKab app, promoted by Inverness Taxis owner Gavin Johnston, is changing the way women travel in the Highlands, by giving them control over how they do it.
Gavin dropped into the focus group meeting to explain what the app is, and raise awareness of it's many benefits.
The SafeKab app was created in response to concerns for women's safety in public spaces and whilst travelling. It offers various tools to protect individuals walking or taking a taxi home, such as: allowing a family member or friend to track your walk home, or alerting nearby taxi drivers to an emergency with the tap of a button.
During the focus group, Drew Hendry was keen to understand if women in Inverness truly feel safe on deeper level, whilst taking notes on suggestions for what needs to change to improve these ongoing issues.
The MP said: “I am very pleased to have SafeKab introduced to our community, a significant step forward in safeguarding the women in the Highlands. It is crucial for everyone to feel secure when returning home, and SafeKab serves as an essential tool in ensuring such security – a huge congratulations to Gavin and the team at Inverness Taxis for successfully taking the lead on this.
“By bringing women from various backgrounds together at the focus group, we aimed to address the diverse needs and concerns related to safety. The insights gained from this event will undoubtedly contribute to further enhancements in the app and other safety initiatives.
“Creating safe communities is a collective responsibility, and I am optimistic that SafeKab will inspire more innovative solutions to emerge, focussing on protection and safety for all.”
The SafeKab app is a huge step forward for women's safety in Inverness, however it remains clear that there is still much more to be done.
