Uber Expands Women-Only Ride Program Nationwide in the US

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Uber has launched a nationwide feature that allows women riders and drivers across the U.S. to be matched with other women for trips. The new 'Women Drivers' option is aimed at addressing safety concerns about the ridesharing platform. The feature is being rolled out despite an ongoing class-action lawsuit in California arguing it is discriminatory against men.

Why it matters

Uber and other ridesharing companies have faced criticism for years over safety issues, including thousands of reports of sexual assaults involving both passengers and drivers. This new feature is Uber's attempt to provide a safer option for women, though it faces legal challenges.

The details

The 'Women Drivers' feature allows women to request a female driver through an option on the Uber app. Passengers can opt for another ride if the wait for a woman driver 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 feature to 26 U.S. cities in November.
• Uber first launched a version of the feature in Saudi Arabia in 2019 following the country's landmark law granting women the right to drive.
• Uber now offers similar options in 40 other countries, including Canada and Mexico.

What’s next

The class-action lawsuit against Uber's 'Women Preferences' feature in California is ongoing, with the company arguing the feature serves a 'strong and recognized public policy interest in enhancing safety'.