Uber Launches Women-Only Ride Option Nationwide

New feature aims to address safety concerns, but faces discrimination lawsuits

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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Uber is rolling out a new feature across the U.S. that allows both women riders and drivers to be matched with other women for trips. The move expands a pilot program the company launched last year in select cities. However, the policy faces an ongoing class-action lawsuit from Uber drivers who argue it discriminates against men.

Why it matters

Uber and rival Lyft have faced thousands of reports of sexual assaults involving their drivers over the years. The new women-only option is intended to address safety concerns, but critics argue it reinforces gender stereotypes and could face legal challenges.

The details

The 'Women Drivers' feature on Uber's app allows women to request a female driver. Passengers can opt for another ride if the wait is too long, or they can reserve a trip with a woman driver in advance. Female Uber drivers can also set preferences to receive ride requests from women only. Uber says about one-fifth of its U.S. drivers are women, though the ratio varies by city. The feature is not open to riders or drivers who identify as non-binary.

  • Uber piloted the 'Women Preferences' feature in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Detroit last summer.
  • Uber expanded the feature to 26 U.S. cities in November 2025.
  • Uber first launched a version of the feature in Saudi Arabia in 2019.

The players

Uber

A ride-hailing company based in San Francisco.

Lyft

A rival ride-hailing company that introduced a similar women-only feature nationwide in 2024.

Ann Olivarius

Co-founder of the law firm McAllister Olivarius who specializes in sex discrimination and sexual harassment cases.

Melody Flores

A single mother who drives for Uber overnight in San Francisco so she can care for her 4-year-old daughter during the day.

Sergio Avedian

An Uber and Lyft driver who is a senior contributor to The RideShare Guy, a popular blog for drivers.

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What they’re saying

“Lowering a client's risk of rape — is that a business necessity? I would argue that it is a business necessity.”

— Ann Olivarius, Co-founder of McAllister Olivarius law firm

“Especially when you work overnight, it's been nice to have that feature.”

— Melody Flores, Uber driver

“Are you going to sit there in front of the bar and wait an extra 20 minutes to get matched to a woman? For the riders, it's mostly about how fast can you get here and how much is it?”

— Sergio Avedian, Uber and Lyft driver

What’s next

The class-action lawsuit filed by Uber drivers against the women-only feature is ongoing, with Uber arguing the policy 'serves a strong and recognized public policy interest in enhancing safety'.

The takeaway

Uber's new women-only ride option aims to address safety concerns, but faces legal challenges over potential gender discrimination. The feature highlights the complex trade-offs between protecting vulnerable riders and avoiding policies that reinforce harmful stereotypes.