It is a VERY big deal!!
The question may be "what was economical"...but we should all have the good sense to keep someone as safe as possible.
Women that live here generally know their drivers in the route system and will only jump in the vehicles that they are comfortable.
They know how to read and understand the town names on the side of a route taxi. Women here also have many ways to make it safer for themselves that these young ladies would not know.
From someone that lives here, I find your suggestion that two young women not knowing the route taxi system take a route taxi especially that early in the morning irresponsible.