Uber is starting a service for women to choose female drivers and fellow riders

Uber has announced a new program that will allow women passengers to select female drivers or share a ride with other women, with initial testing set to take place in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Detroit in the coming weeks. This initiative comes in response to feedback from both female riders and drivers who have expressed a desire for the option to be matched with other women on trips.

According to Uber, women customers will soon see a new option in the app called “women drivers.” If the wait time for a female driver is longer than desired, passengers can choose to opt for a quicker pickup with a male driver. The company acknowledges that wait times may be a concern, as only about 1 in 5 of its drivers are women. To address this issue, customers can also pre-book rides with women drivers, providing more flexibility and control over their transportation preferences.

In addition to selecting women drivers through the app, riders can set a preference for female drivers in their Uber settings to increase the likelihood of being paired with a woman behind the wheel. However, Uber emphasizes that such a match is not guaranteed, as availability may vary based on location and demand.

For female drivers on the platform, they can also opt to request trips with female riders, even during peak hours when they have the opportunity to earn more. By toggling the “women rider preference” option in their app settings, women drivers can prioritize matching with female customers, creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for all users.

This program is not unique to Uber, as other ride-hailing companies have implemented similar features in different countries. Lyft, for example, launched its Women+ Connect feature in 2023, which aims to match women and nonbinary drivers with more women and nonbinary riders. This initiative is available in all U.S. cities where Lyft operates, promoting diversity and inclusivity within the ride-sharing community.

Overall, Uber’s new program reflects a growing trend in the transportation industry to address the specific needs and preferences of women passengers and drivers. By offering more options for women to choose female drivers and share rides with other women, the company is taking steps to create a safer and more comfortable experience for all users.