The Wayfe application, launched in Nantes six months ago, has just been launched in Lille. Designed to help you avoid dangerous places in your city, it already has 15,000 users.
Its name, inspired by the Waze application, comes from the words “way” and “safe”, which mean “path” and “sure” in English. An entire program. Designed by two Nantes entrepreneurs, Valentin Bernier and Marius Bouffant, Wayfe is based on a simple observation: in large cities, certain places are more dangerous than others when you are on foot, particularly at night.
A proposal for safe pedestrian routes, thanks to a sophisticated algorithm and alarm function
Compatible with Android and iOS, the Wayfe app geolocates you and suggests pedestrian routes based on a certain number of criteria, processed in real time by a complex algorithm. This takes into account public lighting in the area, for example. It will tend to take you through main streets where there are people, and space to escape just in case, as well as places where other users of the application are already located. There is strength in numbers, so to speak.
In the same way, other users can report dangerous events (attacks, suspicious presence, etc.), and the application will take these reports into account in real time to modify your route.
The free functions described above are already very interesting, but the subscription of 2.99 euros/month makes the application even more valuable. In question, a function allowing the recording of loved ones, to whom an alert will be launched if the application detects an abnormal movement (running, falling, or sudden immobility). The application also allows you to contact the European emergency number, 112, automatically. This alert can be deactivated within 10 seconds if there is no real problem, reducing the risk of false alarm.
Deployment planned throughout France
Already installed for six months in Nantes, and since yesterday in Lille, the application intends to infiltrate the French landscape on a much larger scale.
Bordeaux and Poitiers are the cities where Wayfe will arrive by the end of the year, then Lyon, Marseille and Toulouse will be served in January next year.
In the long term, the two Nantes entrepreneurs have decided to offer their service in all large and medium-sized cities in France, in order to help pedestrians feel safer when traveling throughout the country. A problem that affects all countries, like Brazil for example.
Source : 20 minutes
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