Uber Is Finally Letting Women Riders In The Us Match With Women Drivers

Six years ago, Uber launched a feature successful Saudi Arabia that fto women drivers connected its ride-hailing app inquire to beryllium connected to female riders. Since then, nan “women preferences” characteristic has rolled retired to 40 countries, from Argentina and Brazil to Canada, India and Mexico.

In a fewer weeks, this characteristic will yet make its measurement to nan United States, nan institution said connected Wednesday. Uber plans to aviator nan characteristic successful Detroit, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Women will beryllium capable to group a penchant for a female driver successful nan Uber app, expanding their chances of a match. After that’s done, erstwhile a female rider requests a trip, they will spot an action called “women drivers.” If nan hold is longer than expected, nan rider tin opt for different ride, according to Uber.

Women drivers tin move their settings to “women rider preference.” This mounting tin beryllium changed if nan driver wants to person travel requests from each riders.

Ride-hailing companies for illustration Uber and Lyft person grappled pinch ways to amended information and pull nan broadest group of users — some connected nan driver and rider sides. But it hasn’t been an easy road.

Ride-hailing information has been a long-standing issue, 1 that has often pitted advocates and regulators against companies for illustration Uber and Lyft. And while rare, reports of intersexual assaults and fatal attacks person only fueled those concerns.

Uber reported 36 beingness battle fatalities successful 2021 and 2022, according to its latest U.S. information study released past year. Uber noted that beingness battle fatalities had jumped from erstwhile years. While nan incidents still made up a mini fraction of nan 1.8 cardinal trips that were made successful 2021 and 2022 successful nan U.S., nan uptick prompted nan institution to motorboat a assortment of features to summation safety, including verified rider badges and options to audio and video grounds rides.

Sexual battle incidents person dropped consistently since Uber began reporting nan information successful 2017. Uber reported 5,981 intersexual assaults from 2017 to 2018, and that fig dropped by much than half to 2,717 successful nan 2021 to 2022 period.

Meanwhile, Uber and Lyft person sought ways to pull much female drivers. Both companies person much antheral drivers than women — for instance, astir 1 successful 5 of Uber drivers successful nan U.S. are women. The “women preferences” feature, designed to springiness some nan rider and driver immoderate control, could thief pull much users connected some sides.

Uber was nan first awesome ride-hailing institution to motorboat nan women preferences feature. However, rival Lyft was nan first to connection a women-matching characteristic successful nan United States — its superior market.