Uber Introduces “Female Preferences” Feature
On Wednesday, Uber rolled out its “female preferences” feature, allowing female riders and drivers in the U.S. to connect exclusively with other women during their rides. This new option is set to start in cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Detroit soon, but there isn’t a timeline yet for launching it in other locations across the U.S.
The company stated, “Across the U.S., female riders and drivers say they want options that match other women on their trip. We’ve heard them, and now we’re introducing new ways to give them even more control over how they ride and drive.”
Uber emphasized that this feature aims to enhance safety and provide more confidence for its users. “For the first time in the U.S., we are launching women’s preferences. It is designed to offer more choices and flexibility when female riders and drivers use Uber,” they added.
This initiative comes in light of Uber documenting numerous sexual assault cases over the years, prompting the company to explore safety measures. Previously, Uber had tested a similar feature in around 40 countries, starting with Saudi Arabia in 2019, which saw positive reception after women gained the right to drive there.
Uber mentioned, “Of course, riders wanted the same choice,” acknowledging that many drivers are male. They worked to ensure this feature is user-friendly in varying global contexts. Female riders only need to confirm their gender in the app to access these new functionalities. When booking a ride, options for selecting a “Female Driver” will appear alongside standard services like UberX and Comfort. Additionally, riders can pre-book trips with female drivers.
Uber’s move seems timely, as other platforms, like Lyft, are also making efforts to focus on similar features, with their “Women+ Connect” option set to expand nationwide soon.
While there’s no guarantee that a rider will get matched with a female driver, the company stated that users will be able to switch their preferences in the app settings to best suit their needs.
