No, i do not use Lyft or Uber. I take taxis occasionally though, because they are unionized (i support unions) and have stricter repercussions for driver misconduct than ride sharing apps. I rarely take them alone though, because I have friends that I go out with. I mostly take public transportation because it's a great service, or walk because this city is beautiful, even in bad weather, and I have functioning legs. You should try it.

Maybe it does seem infantilizing to be told not to trust strangers when you are a man. I wish I had that luxury, but unfortunately I live in a world where strangers yell what sexual acts they would like to perform on me in public, in broad daylight. I live in a world where serial rapists and murderers collect women who look exactly like me. A world where 1 in 5 women have been raped.

Your world sounds nice, though. I'd like to be a whimsical trust fairy who sprinkles benefit-of-the-doubt wherever she goes couchsurfing and ubering. Maybe for a day. Then I would go back to being a capable, resourceful person who is aware of her surroundings and laughs at the crazy characters she meets on the bus.

The thing is, it really isn't that inconvenient or difficult to avoid obvious risks. It's no guarantee, but it's better than nothing. What IS frustrating is dudes tell me I am being paranoid for not wanting an uber driver to have my address saved in his phone, or not wanting to go to an after hours house party with guys I don't know. Statistically, he can do those things and be fine. I might not.

So, go ahead and hitchhike to the central valley. It will probably be tons of fun. Just don't tell women you know that they are crazy for being cautious about strangers. You have no idea what its like to know you are prey.