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Uber Extends Option to Choose Women Drivers to 26 U.S. Cities

The rollout follows mounting safety concerns, drawing discrimination lawsuits from male drivers.

Overview

  • Uber activated its Women Preferences setting in Chicago and about 25 other markets after pilots in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Detroit.
  • Women riders can request or reserve trips with women drivers or set a preference that increases the chances of a match, while women drivers can choose to accept only women riders.
  • Teens in supported markets can request women drivers, and guardians can make those requests on their behalf.
  • Uber notes wait times may increase when the preference is on given a limited supply of women drivers, estimated at about one in five in the U.S., with easy toggles back to standard matching.
  • Male drivers have sued Uber and Lyft alleging discrimination and lost earnings from gender-based matching, as Lyft continues offering its similar Women+ Connect feature.