So we tried to find some of the most useful features in each app ourselves that give passengers quick access to help.

Uber

You can set up a Trusted Contacts feature to prompt you to select up to five friends or family members with whom you can share your whereabouts for every ride. There is also an in-app emergency button to connect you directly to 911, and a Ride Check feature that tracks trip irregularities and notifies Uber accordingly will be rolled out in the coming months.

Via

Via cars send text messages to passengers just before pickup, and passengers can text that same phone number for immediate responses during emergencies. (This can be easier than opening the app and emailing its help center.) Via has support staff across time zones and continents to provide help in real time at any time. As with Uber, the Via team monitors drivers’ routes, triggering and sending alerts to the support staff when the cars deviate off course.

Lyft

Before Lyft rides begin, passengers receive a photo of the driver, the car make and model, and the license plate, all inside the app. Once the ride begins, travelers can share the route and estimated time of arrival with others by tapping Send ETA. The Critical Response Line, accessible through the app 24/7, is the fastest way to get a trained expert on the phone.

Have you had an uncomfortable experience in a ride-sharing service or taxi in New York that you want to share? How did you handle it? Let us know in the comments.