Uber launches women-only ride option across the United States.

Uber has rolled out a significant new feature intended to enhance safety and comfort for its female riders and drivers across the United States. This initiative, which allows women to specifically request female drivers, aims to address persistent concerns regarding safety on ride-hailing platforms. The announcement was made on Monday, marking the nationwide launch of a program that had previously been tested in select cities.

The newly introduced feature gives women users the option to choose a female driver through an app setting known as “Women Drivers.” This adjustment allows passengers to either select a female driver if available, freely decline the current ride if the wait time for a woman driver is excessive, or make a reservation in advance. Additionally, users can establish a preference for female drivers in their app profile, thereby increasing their likelihood of being matched with a woman, albeit without a guarantee. Uber is extending this feature to accommodate teenage users as well, enabling them to request trips with female drivers.

While Uber promotes this initiative as a response to customer feedback regarding safety and comfort, the rollout comes amidst legal challenges. An ongoing class-action lawsuit in California asserts that the “Women Preferences” feature constitutes discrimination against male drivers by limiting their access to a lucrative segment of the passenger pool. The lawsuit cites violations of California’s Unruh Act, which prohibits gender discrimination in business practices. Similar legal action has also been initiated against Lyft for a comparable feature launched in 2024.

Uber contends that its policy fulfills a broader public safety interest and has filed a motion to compel arbitration in the ongoing lawsuit, invoking agreements that drivers signed upon joining the platform. The company maintains that its safety measures, including the matching feature, respond to long-standing requests from female drivers and riders for increased comfort and security.

Originally piloted in cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Detroit, and expanded to 26 additional locations in November, the “Women Preferences” initiative is part of Uber’s ongoing efforts to address safety concerns. The company first introduced a similar feature in Saudi Arabia in 2019 after the country granted women the right to drive, later extending similar options to several other countries, including Canada and Mexico.

Despite the continued rollout of safety features, both Uber and Lyft have faced criticism for their handling of sexual assault allegations involving drivers and passengers. Recent reports indicate a troubling history of incidents, despite claims from Uber that reported cases of sexual assault have declined over the years. In a notable case earlier this year, a federal jury found Uber to be liable for an assault incident and awarded damages to the victim.

As legal challenges unfold, the debate surrounding gender-based matching features in ride-hailing services is likely to intensify, raising questions about inclusivity, safety, and fairness in the rapidly evolving landscape of transportation technology.