Three Questions

Taxes? The name?

Q. Will this require any bonds or taxes?

A. No. The rather modest startup investment of $55 million (27 million pounds) will be underwritten by private investors who expect a handsome return on their investments.

(Most people have forgotten, but the first two subways in New York were privately financed. SafeNiki has an advantage over subways because no streets must be torn up.)

Q. Where did the name "SafeNiki" come from?

A. The Russians have developed an interesting form of hitch-hiking where the rider pays the driver a dollar or more depending on the length of the trip. Each such driver is called a "chastnik," and the plural is "chastniki."

For the concept to be workable in the US, Britain, and Western Europe, both the driver and and rider need to be certain they are safe.

The driver doesn't want to get robbed; the rider doesn't want to get raped or robbed.

The "SafeNiki" is a combination of SAFEty and chastNIKI. Please be aware that this is the development name, not the public name that will be used for marketing.

Q. There is no 3rd question, other than mine to ask if you read this far. :-)