Uber expands its program that helps pair women riders and drivers
Summary
Uber has launched its Women Preferences feature nationwide, allowing women riders to request female drivers. This initiative, tested in various cities and globally since 2019, aims to enhance safety in ridesharing, paralleling similar efforts by Lyft.
Key Insights
How does Uber determine eligibility for Women Preferences?
Uber uses technology to determine a rider's gender based on their first name and a driver's gender based on their government-issued identification. Users can update their gender in the app settings if incorrect: riders via Account > Settings > Personal info, and drivers via Menu > Settings > Manage Uber account > Personal Info > Gender.
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Will using Women Preferences increase wait times, and who can use it including teens and transgender users?
Riders may experience longer wait times if female drivers are unavailable or farther away, but they can choose to wait, reserve later, or select any available driver. It is now available nationwide for women riders, expanded to teen accounts where guardians or teens can request female drivers, but only for those with gender set to 'Woman' in the app, excluding transgender and non-binary users.