Some Calgary parents are hailing Uber for Teens as the ultimate solution to safely getting their kids where they need to go. Others remain wary, despite acknowledging the busy schedules that parents face.
Uber piloted its new service in Calgary, letting teens 13 to 17 ride solo through a profile on their parents’ account. The service launched in additional cities in western Canada and Quebec in May, and Ontario and Nova Scotia on June 21.
“The economy has made it more important than ever that both parents are working, and we just can’t be everywhere, all at once, every time,” said Calgary parent Dale Finnis, who is raising two teenage sons with her husband.
While she sees the benefit of the ride-share service, she isn’t quite convinced it’s safe enough. “It just doesn’t take away that fear and the risk of turning this most important person in your life over into someone else’s hands. It’s a tough one.”
Her 16-year-old son will be getting his driver’s license soon, but the family of four will still be sharing two vehicles. She said they will consider Uber for Teens as an option this summer as her kids’ schedules fill up with summer school and part-time work.
“I feel like there might be less of a risk with boys than there is with girls… At the end of the day, my boys are still minors and still vulnerable,” Finnis said.
Uber for Teens has enhanced safety features
Uber has added safety features to the service, said Uber Canada’s general manager of mobility Michael van Hemmen.
“When parents set up a teen account with Uber, experienced drivers can help get their teen wherever they need to go with safety tools built into every trip,” van Hemmen said in a statement.
Parents are notified whenever their child requests a trip and can monitor the ride in their own app.
Uber’s RideCheck feature senses when a ride has gone off course, stops unexpectedly or ends early, triggering a check-in message to the teen and driver. Parents are able to see that the ride has detoured or stopped and can contact the driver.
Some Calgary parents say they are reassured by Uber’s safety features.
Mustang Randall, a parent to three boys aged 13, 10 and eight, said he knows about the type of police checks that are required to drive for Uber and feels comfortable with the teen service.
“I don’t have anything against public transit but I feel actually a lot more comfortable putting my kid in an Uber and being able to track the ride’s progress and have that driver accountable to me because I can reach out to them,” said Randall, a southeast Calgary resident.
Discussing ride-share safety with his kids will be an extension of the critical safety talks they’ve grown up hearing.
“I’ve heard horror stories about some Uber rides, but there are controls in place, and as a parent, I do feel it gives me another option,” he said.
To use the service parents or guardians add their teen to a family profile. Only highly rated, experienced drivers are selected for Uber for Teens rides, according to the company.
Uber’s audio recording feature can be switched on while using the ride-share app. PIN verification is mandatory, so teens know they’re getting in the right car.
Are teens ready for solo Uber rides?
Calgary parent Stacy Walton said she’s worried that some Canadian teens might not be prepared to handle solo rides.
“Not all young people are prepared to be feisty and tell someone, ‘No,’” she said. “It doesn’t have to be physical danger but a driver could also make comments or verbally assault the kid.”
She encourages other parents to use a buddy system and have at least two kids on an Uber trip together.
“Always having more than one gives confidence. And they’re less likely to have something happen to them,” said Walton.
Calgary police said teens should ensure a parent or guardian knows their plans and the time they expect to be home. And caregivers are encouraged to actively monitor the app while their child uses it.
“For all ride-share users, make sure your ride-share driver, vehicle and license plate match the information in the app,” a Calgary Police Service representative said.
“And if in doubt, don’t get in the car.”
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