Uber is rolling out a new feature designed to give women more choice, comfort, and safety while using the platform.
The company announced Wednesday that starting next month, women riders in select U.S. cities will be able to choose a preference for women drivers when booking or pre-booking a ride. The feature will be piloted in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Detroit.
Women drivers can also select a preference to only drive women, giving them more control over who they pick up.
Uber’s vice president of U.S. and Canada operations, Camiel Irving, said the feature is meant to help women feel more at ease using the service, whether they’re behind the wheel or in the backseat. While the app can’t guarantee every request will be fulfilled, it boosts the likelihood women riders will be paired with women drivers.
The company tested the tool in France, Germany, and Argentina, and it builds on Uber’s earlier gender-preference efforts. In 2019, Uber introduced a similar feature in Saudi Arabia after women gained the right to drive, eventually expanding it to 40 countries.
The update comes as Uber and other ride-hailing companies continue facing scrutiny over rider safety, particularly after reports of harassment and assault on their platforms.
