Uber has launched a feature allowing female drivers and passengers across the US to request trips with other women on the ride-hailing app. The feature was piloted in the US last year and led to women feeling “more comfortable in the back seat” and “more confident behind the wheel”, Uber said.
The rollout comes despite an ongoing class action lawsuit in California, filed by Uber drivers who argue the move discriminates against men. Uber said around one-fifth of its drivers in the US are women, although the ratio varies by city.
Uber’s Women Preferences was launched on Monday in response to women riders and drivers who told the firm they wanted “more control over how they ride and earn”. Women can reserve a trip with a woman driver in advance or set their preference in the app to increase the likelihood of being matched with a woman. In cities where teen accounts are available, teens and their parents can also request women drivers.
Uber already offers the woman-matching option for drivers in more than 40 countries and for riders across seven countries, including Spain, Brazil and Saudi Arabia.