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Uber rolls out women-preferred rides across the U.S.
Uber has made its women-only ride-matching feature available to all female drivers and passengers in the United States, the company announced Monday. The move follows a pilot program that Uber said increased comfort for women both behind the wheel and in the back seat.
How the feature works
Women can now pre-select a female driver when booking a ride or set their app preferences to prioritize matches with women. In cities where Uber allows teen accounts, parents and teenagers can also request female drivers. The option does not guarantee a same-gender match but aims to increase the likelihood of one.
Legal pushback and discrimination claims
The expansion comes despite an active class-action lawsuit in California, where two male Uber drivers allege the feature violates state anti-discrimination laws by limiting their access to passengers. Uber has asked a court to pause the litigation and move the case to private arbitration, arguing the drivers agreed to such terms when they signed up.
"This feature serves a strong and recognized public policy interest in enhancing safety," Uber said in its motion, disputing claims that it breaches the Unruh Act, which prohibits sex-based discrimination by businesses.
Safety concerns and past rulings
Uber's decision follows a high-profile court case last month, where the company was ordered to pay $8.5 million to a woman who said she was sexually assaulted by an Uber driver. The ruling could set a precedent for thousands of similar claims against the company. Uber has said it plans to appeal, arguing that drivers are independent contractors subject to background checks and that the company should not be held liable for criminal acts by individuals using its platform.
Global context and industry trends
Uber already offers gender-based ride matching in over 40 countries for drivers and in seven countries for passengers, including Spain, Brazil, and Saudi Arabia. Competitor Lyft faces a similar discrimination lawsuit over its 2024 feature allowing riders and drivers to prioritize women and non-binary matches.
Demographics and city variations
About 20% of Uber's U.S. drivers are women, though the ratio varies by city, according to the company. The feature was introduced in response to feedback from women who said they wanted "more control over how they ride and earn."
