Uber Launches Women-Only Ride Option Nationwide

New feature allows women riders and drivers to be matched for trips, addressing safety concerns.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Uber has launched 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 aimed at addressing safety concerns about the ride-hailing platform. The feature is being rolled out nationwide despite an ongoing class-action lawsuit against the policy in California, filed by Uber drivers who argue that it discriminates against men.

Why it matters

The new Uber feature is part of a broader effort by ride-hailing companies to address safety issues, particularly around sexual assault reports involving both passengers and drivers. While the policy has faced legal challenges, Uber argues it serves a 'strong and recognized public policy interest in enhancing safety' for women users.

The details

The 'Women Drivers' option on the Uber 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 trip requests from women riders. 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 following the country's law granting women the right to drive.

The players

Uber

An American ride-hailing company that has faced thousands of reports of sexual assaults over the years from both passengers and drivers.

Lyft

A rival ride-hailing company that is facing a discrimination lawsuit over a similar women-only offering that it introduced nationwide in 2024.

Anne Olivarius

Co-founder of the law firm McAllister Olivarius who specializes in sex discrimination and sexual harassment cases, and believes Uber and Lyft have a strong case against discrimination litigation because the features address an urgent business need to protect clients.

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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.”

— Anne Olivarius, Co-founder, McAllister Olivarius

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

— Melody Flores, Uber driver

What’s next

The judge in the California class-action lawsuit will decide whether to allow the women-only ride option to continue.

The takeaway

Uber's new women-only ride feature is part of a broader industry effort to improve safety, particularly for female passengers and drivers, though the policy faces legal challenges over discrimination concerns.