Uber Expands Women-Only Ride Option Nationwide

New feature allows women riders and drivers to be matched, despite ongoing lawsuits over discrimination claims.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Uber has launched a new feature across the U.S. that allows women riders and drivers to be matched for trips, expanding a pilot program aimed at addressing safety concerns. The move comes despite ongoing lawsuits in California that argue the policy is discriminatory against men. Rival Lyft also faces a similar lawsuit over its 'Women+Connect' feature.

Why it matters

Uber and other ride-hailing companies have long faced criticism over safety issues, including thousands of reports of sexual assaults. The new women-only option is intended to address these concerns, but faces legal challenges over claims of gender discrimination.

The details

The 'Women Drivers' feature gives women riders the option to request a female driver through the Uber app. Passengers can opt for another ride if the wait is too long, or reserve a trip with a woman driver in advance. Uber is also allowing teen account users to request women drivers. Female Uber drivers can set preferences to receive trips from women riders, which they can turn off at any time.

  • 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 following the country's law granting women the right to drive.

The players

Uber

An American ride-hailing company that has faced criticism over safety issues and is now offering a women-only ride option nationwide.

Lyft

A rival ride-hailing company that also offers a 'Women+Connect' feature that allows women and non-binary riders to match with drivers of the same identification.

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What’s next

The judge in the California class-action lawsuit against Uber's women-only feature will decide whether to compel arbitration in the case.

The takeaway

Uber's expansion of its women-only ride option highlights the ongoing safety concerns and gender dynamics in the ride-hailing industry, as companies try to balance addressing those issues with potential discrimination claims.