Uber Launches Women-only Ride Feature Across The United States

Uber launches women-only ride feature across the United States

Ride-hailing company Uber has introduced a new feature in the United States that allows women drivers and passengers to request trips with other women through the app, in a move aimed at improving safety and comfort for female users. The feature, known as “Women Preferences”, enables female riders to select an option for “Women Drivers” when booking a trip. If a woman driver is available nearby, the app will match the passenger with her. Riders can also reserve trips with a woman driver in advance or set a default preference in their app settings to increase the chances of being paired with one. Women drivers can also activate a setting that allows them to accept trip requests only from female passengers, giving them greater control over who they pick up. The feature was first tested in several U.S. cities before being rolled out nationwide Uber says the initiative was created in response to feedback from women who said they would feel safer and more comfortable riding or driving if they could be matched with other women. Safety concerns have been a long-standing issue in ride-hailing services, with reports of misconduct and sexual assault on the platform over the years prompting calls for stronger protections for women riders and drivers. The company says the option will be available across the U.S., although matches with female drivers cannot always be guaranteed because only about 20% of The feature is also accessible for teen accounts, allowing teenagers and their guardians to request a woman driver for rides. Despite positive reactions from some users, the rollout has sparked legal debate. A class-action lawsuit filed in California by male drivers argues that the policy discriminates against men by limiting their access to passengers. Uber says the feature is a “commonsense solution” to safety concerns raised by women.

Uber says the system is part of its broader effort to provide more choice, comfort and control for women using the ride-hailing platform.