'Feel More Protected': Crowdfunded Cab Rides Aim to Get Asian Americans Home Safe

Lately, Candy has been running to the bus stop on her way home from work. The 26-year-old dance instructor said it's usually dark outside by the time she finishes her shift at a studio in San Francisco — and she's started to dread commuting in the "pitch black."

"I usually call my best friend who lives in New York," she said. "I have him on the phone with me while I run to the bus stop and shiver, nervously waiting for the bus to come."

Candy, who's Filipina American and asked that NPR not use her full name out of concern she could be targeted, said the recent wave of anti-Asian violence around the Bay Area and elsewhere has made her fear for her own safety, especially when walking alone in the city.

Now, a new effort is helping to get her home safe.

In response to recent attacks against Asian Americans, community-based efforts in the Bay Area, New York and Boston are pooling funds for taxi or app-based rides for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who feel unsafe walking or taking public transit.

Over the last month alone, Asian Americans have been attacked at work, on the way to church and while waiting to cross the street. In a widely cited report, the organization Stop AAPI Hate said it received close to 3,800 reports of incidents ranging from verbal harassment to physical assault from last March to this February.

Candy said her fears worsened last month, after a shooter in Atlanta killed eight people, including six Asian women.

"The Atlanta shootings debilitated me," she said. "I called out of work that day and just could not focus at all."

By Thursday, Cafe Maddy Cab had reimbursed at least 400 of more than 1,000 requests. Park said many of the requests have come from nurses, medical personnel and other essential workers who often work night shifts. She's also received messages from people escorting older relatives to COVID-19 vaccinations and doctor appointments.

"I've gotten a lot of messages of gratitude from people saying they weren't able to afford the rides and it's a huge financial relief and a safety relief that they have this option," Park said.

Reaching Older Asian Americans

Kye Perrot, a 39-year-old business consultant who helped organize a similar program in the Bay Area, said reaching older Asian Americans who might not be on social media is one of her top priorities. With help from a small group of volunteers, Perrot, who's Korean American, plans to pass out flyers around Bay Area bus and train stations advertising ride reimbursements in languages including Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese and Tagalog.

Her team also hopes younger community members will help coordinate trips for older family members who may be less familiar with ride-hailing apps.

"I just wanted it to be a resource for some people to feel a little bit more protected," Perrot said. "And to not feel so scared and feel like they have a way out."

For Perrot and Park, their work on these programs has become like a part-time job, especially since neither were previously familiar with organizing mutual aid.

Perrot said she spends at least five to six hours a day going through direct messages, comments and ride requests. Meanwhile, Park said she put a hold on all her other social media accounts while she works on making her reimbursement system more efficient.

"I'm working around the clock," Park said. "If I'm not eating or sleeping or seeing a patient, I'm working on this."

Park said she is partnering with groups in Los Angeles, Seattle and other cities hoping to get similar ride funds off the ground within the next few weeks. As the network broadens, she hopes to be able to support community members as long as the fear of more anti-Asian attacks persists.

"As long as we need it, I hope we can keep running it," Park said. "But the goal is for this to be unnecessary ASAP."

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