By Blessing Nweke
Ride-hailing giant Uber has launched a new feature across the United States that allows women riders and drivers to be matched with other women, expanding a pilot program designed to address safety concerns on its platform.
The feature, called “Women Drivers,” lets female passengers request a woman driver directly through the app. Riders can also reserve a ride with a woman driver in advance or set a preference in their settings that increases the chances of being paired with one. If the wait time becomes too long, passengers can still choose to take the next available ride.
Women drivers can also enable a setting that prioritizes ride requests from female passengers. According to Uber, about 20% of its drivers in the U.S. are women, though the share varies widely depending on the city.
The rollout comes despite a legal challenge in California. Two Uber drivers filed a class-action lawsuit in November, arguing the feature discriminates against male drivers by potentially giving female drivers access to a broader passenger base. The lawsuit cites California’s Unruh Act, which prohibits discrimination by businesses.
Uber has moved to compel arbitration in the case, stating that the plaintiffs agreed to arbitration terms when they joined the platform. The company also argues the feature serves an important public safety interest.
Legal experts say Uber may have a strong defense. Ann Olivarius of the law firm McAllister Olivarius said measures aimed at reducing the risk of sexual assault could be considered a legitimate business necessity.
The policy follows years of safety concerns. Both Uber and rival Lyft have faced thousands of sexual assault reports involving riders and drivers.
Uber piloted the program last summer in several U.S. cities and has already introduced similar features in more than 40 countries. The company hopes the option will attract more women to its driver network while making riders feel safer.
Original article
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