Uber launches a new “Women Preferences” feature allowing female riders to match with female drivers and vice versa. The pilot will start soon in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Detroit. This new option aims to improve safety and comfort for women using the platform. Both riders and drivers can enable the feature through their app settings to customise their experience.
What’s Happening & Why This Matters
Women riders will soon see an option to select female drivers when booking a trip. They can also increase their chances of getting a female driver by toggling their preference in the Uber app. Conversely, about 20% of Uber drivers are women, and they can choose to accept trips exclusively from female riders by enabling the “Women Rider Preference.” Drivers can disable the setting if they face long wait times or a lack of matched riders.
Uber notes that the functionality helps female drivers earn more confidently during peak hours and evenings by giving them flexibility and control over their rides. Camiel Irving, Vice President of Operations for the U.S. and Canada, told Bloomberg that the feature has proven popular since its launch and expects a similar reception in the U.S.
The concept builds upon Uber’s earlier Women Rider Preference initiative, introduced in Saudi Arabia in 2019. The previous version allowed only women drivers to set preferences. Now, both drivers and riders can make matching choices, enhancing safety and user comfort.
Rival ride-sharing company Lyft offers a comparable feature called Women+ Connect, launched in 2023. Lyft also allows riders to mark drivers as favourites, increasing the chances of future matches with the same driver. The features respond to increasing demands for safer, more inclusive ride-sharing experiences.
The timing of Uber’s update follows a consolidated class-action lawsuit alleging sexual harassment by Uber drivers. The lawsuit alleges that Uber failed to screen its drivers properly and should therefore be held liable. The trial starts in December 2025. Features like “Women Preferences” aim to rebuild trust and demonstrate Uber’s commitment to rider and driver safety.
TF Summary: What’s Next
Uber’s new Women Preferences feature is a means to prioritise safety and choice in ride-sharing. By allowing female riders and drivers to match, Uber boosts its users’ comfort and confidence in the service. Will the feature further attract more female drivers by offering flexible, safe working conditions?
As Uber and Lyft test similar options, curating ride-sharing to user needs is growing in importance. Ongoing legal cases are compelling platforms to improve safety standards and rebuild public trust. Future developments may expand preference settings and safety tools, ensuring ride-sharing stays inclusive and secure.
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