After launching a pilot program in 2025 in choose cities, Uber has expanded its women-only driver choice nationwide for ladies riders.
On Monday, March 9, to mark Worldwide Girls’s Day, the rideshare firm’s new function, dubbed “Girls Preferences,” formally launched throughout the nation, regardless of ongoing lawsuits by drivers in California who allege the brand new choice discriminates in opposition to males.
“When ladies riders and drivers informed us they needed extra management over how they trip and earn, we listened,” Uber officers wrote in a weblog submit asserting the growth.
“That suggestions led to Girls Preferences, options designed to provide ladies the selection to trip with different ladies. Since our first pilots final summer season, we’ve heard simply how a lot that alternative issues—from feeling extra comfy within the again seat to extra assured behind the wheel,” the submit continued. “This Worldwide Girls’s Day, we’re taking the subsequent step for ladies within the U.S. and around the globe. Beginning at present, Girls Preferences is increasing nationwide — to cities like New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. — in addition to in additional cities around the globe, too.”
The brand new choice permits ladies riders to both request ladies drivers when hailing rides, reserve a trip upfront with a feminine driver, and set ladies drivers as their most well-liked desire, although that doesn’t assure they are going to at all times be matched with a girl on account of availability. The function can be accessible for teen accounts, and ladies drivers may also choose to primarily settle for journeys from ladies riders.
Finally, the transfer is a part of Uber’s broader effort to assist enhance security for feminine riders and drivers amid longstanding issues about sexual assault and harassment throughout the rideshare business. In line with Uber’s personal security studies launched lately, 1000’s of sexual assault incidents — together with studies involving each riders and drivers — have been documented, prompting the corporate and opponents to introduce new security instruments and matching choices.
Lyft unveiled the same women-matching program in 2024, a part of a broader push throughout the business to handle security issues and provides ladies extra management over their trip expertise. However it has ruffled feathers amongst some within the male driving power.
Because the pilot was first launched, male drivers have filed lawsuits alleging the function violates California civil rights legal guidelines by discriminating based mostly on intercourse and limiting their entry to rides. Uber has argued the function is optionally available and designed as a security instrument.
Within the meantime, whereas there are nonetheless some kinks to work out, the reception has been largely optimistic. One TikTok person took her followers on one in every of her first rides utilizing the brand new function earlier this week.
“The trip share apps simply dropped a brand new function the place ladies can choose ladies drivers. Thanks, God,” she stated into the digicam as she was ready for her trip to reach.
“In the event you don’t know what I’m speaking about, Google the ‘New York Instances’ article in regards to the loopy quantity of Uber, Lyft, and rideshare sexual assault in opposition to ladies. I really feel a lot safer that I’m in a position to order a trip house with a girl. I’m so glad,” she says as she will get inside her trip.
As soon as on her journey, she begins to interact her girl driver in dialog in regards to the new function. That’s when her driver informs her that the “ladies to ladies” choices are “slightly sus” and he or she doesn’t usually do it as a result of she claims she doesn’t obtain the identical charge as common rides.
“Oh no, so that they taking part in in our faces then. That shouldn’t be decrease fare,” she says, including, “Uber and Lyft, y’all must not solely hold ladies secure however it’s essential to pay ladies pretty.”
Different customers of the brand new function have additionally famous there are important wait instances for ladies drivers even whenever you’ve requested them upfront, partly on account of availability, as ladies drivers solely make up about 20% of the corporate’s driver power total, and that quantity varies considerably when trying metropolis to metropolis.
One other TikTok person based mostly in Houston alleged in a submit that she ordered a trip utilizing the brand new function and arrived over an hour late to work regardless of having requested it upfront.
Uber didn’t instantly return theGrio’s request for remark.
In the meantime, in a submit in regards to the new function, “Love Island USA” star and Uber Companion, JaNa Craig, raves about it and exhibits viewers the best way to use it. After beginning her request for a trip she scrolls all the way down to the “Girls Driver” choice earlier than deciding on it and ultimately assembly up together with her driver.
“Realizing that I may choose a feminine driver after I’m heading house or again to the resort, I can simply really feel relaxed and cozy,” she says within the video. “Uber is severely for the ladies, so subsequent time you’re having a women evening out be sure you select a feminine driver within the app and the girlies will come and get you.”
