Ottawa rideshare driver charged with sexual assault; advocates call for stronger safety measures

An Ottawa rideshare driver has been charged with sexual assault, prompting safety advocates to call for stronger accountability measures from Uber and Lyft.

Mohamed Laarous, who drove for both platforms, was arrested and charged on July 28. Police say the investigation is ongoing and they believe there may be other victims in the Ottawa area.

The arrest has heightened concerns among women and gender-diverse residents about rideshare safety. Astara van der Jagt, executive director of the Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women, said survivors often face significant barriers when seeking support. "It takes courage for survivors to come forward, particularly given the different types of barriers many face," she said.

For many Ottawa residents, transportation safety already shapes daily choices. Christina Trinh said she had avoided rideshares even before this incident, preferring to drive or use public transit when traveling alone. "I was disappointed to see that it happened within the Ottawa region, and it made me more concerned about taking a rideshare in the future," she said.

Both Uber and Lyft told the Ottawa Citizen they removed Laarous from their platforms as soon as they were notified of the alleged incident. "Safety is paramount to the Uber experience, and we take reports of this nature very seriously," a company statement said.

Advocates are pushing for broader action. Meg Harod, executive and policy director at City for All Women Initiative, said rideshare companies need to be held accountable through stronger education and prevention efforts. Van der Jagt called for companies to "regularly review and improve safety policies in consultation with community organizations."