Uber Expands Women-Only Ride Option Nationwide

New feature allows female drivers and passengers to be matched, despite ongoing lawsuits

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Uber has launched a nationwide feature that allows women riders and drivers to be matched with each other, expanding a pilot program aimed at addressing safety concerns. The new "Women Drivers" option is being rolled out across the U.S. despite ongoing class-action lawsuits in California that argue the policy is discriminatory against men.

Why it matters

The move by Uber to cater to women's safety concerns comes amid a broader debate over gender discrimination in the ride-hailing industry. Rival company Lyft is also facing a lawsuit over a similar women-only feature it introduced nationwide in 2024.

The details

The new Uber feature allows women to request a female driver through an option on the app. Passengers can opt for another ride if the wait for a woman is too long, and they can also reserve a trip with a woman driver in advance. Uber is also allowing its teen account users to request women drivers. Uber's women drivers can set the app's preferences to request trips with female riders, and they can turn off that preference at any time.

  • Uber piloted the "Women Preferences" feature in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Detroit last summer.
  • Uber expanded the "Women Drivers" feature to 26 U.S. cities in November 2025.

The players

Uber

A ride-hailing company based in San Francisco that has launched a nationwide feature allowing women riders and drivers to be matched with each other.

Lyft

A rival ride-hailing company that introduced a similar women-only feature nationwide in 2024, which is also facing a discrimination lawsuit.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The lawsuits filed against Uber and Lyft over their women-only features are ongoing, and the courts will ultimately decide the legality of these policies.

The takeaway

Uber's expansion of its women-only ride option highlights the industry's efforts to address safety concerns, particularly for female passengers and drivers. However, the legal challenges underscore the complex issues of gender discrimination that ride-hailing companies continue to navigate.