Didi says equal carpooling hours for men and women after outcry

Ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing said Thursday it was changing the hours on its reinstated car-pooling service to give equal access to male and female passengers after critics slammed it for discriminating against women.

Safety reforms to "Hitch" -- separate from Didi's main ride-hailing platform -- were announced Wednesday following a suspension of the service after two female passengers were murdered by male drivers last year.

But the new rules cutting women off at 8pm while letting men use the service until 11pm drew a swift backlash.

"Because our considerations were careless, our communication was inappropriate, and we created trouble for everyone, we deeply apologise," the ride-hailing company said Thursday on its Twitter-like Weibo account.

Didi's ride-hailing services are used by hundreds of millions of customers in China.

But the company came under intense criticism after two young female passengers were murdered in two separate cases by drivers using the Hitch carpool service.

Didi apologised, suspended Hitch and strengthened its safety features.

Hitch's revamped service will be launched in seven cities this month, the company said Wednesday, and will offer users "safe, economical, friendly and environmentally friendly ways to travel."

As part of its new safety drive, Didi will also limit the length of journeys available on the carpool service to less than 50 kilometres (30 miles).

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