The service is for women, by women. (Photo courtesy of LadyJek)

Jakarta. App-based motorcycle taxis, known locally as ojek, including GoJek and GrabBike have a new contender on the streets of Jakarta with the launch of women-only service LadyJek on Thursday.

The service is "for women, by women" and features 700 female drivers who will only accept female customers.

Director Brian Mulyadi says many women feel insecure taking a motorcycle taxi driven by a unfamiliar male and the idea behind the app is to provide peace of mind to commuters.

“We believe LadyJek can be a solution for women to feel ... since all of our drivers are women as well,” Brian said on Thursday at the LadyJek launch in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta.

LadyJek drivers are equipped with sophisticated safety measures dubbed the "LadyJek Shield," in which a driver can activate a loud alarm if the driver or customer become the victim of street crime. The system is also used to accurately detect the motorcycle taxi's location.

“We also provide insurance for both drivers and customers,” Brian added.