Let’s be real: getting into a stranger’s car, especially late at night, can be a little nerve-wracking. Uber and similar services made it safer through emergency in-app buttons, live tracking, and other features. Now, they’re taking it a step further by expanding a much-awaited service, especially for women.
The rideshare giant just dropped a major update that’s rolling out right now in San Diego and over 25 other cities across the U.S. It’s called Women Preferences, and it’s designed to give both women riders and drivers more control over who they share a car with.
How it works
-
For Riders: You can now specifically request a woman driver when booking a ride on-demand. Planning ahead? You can also lock in a woman driver using the reserve feature. If you want to make it a habit, there’s a new toggle in your settings to prioritize women drivers for all your trips. It’s not 100% guaranteed (since it depends on who is working), but it definitely boosts your odds.
-
For Drivers: Women drivers can now set a preference to only pick up women riders. This is huge for those who might have avoided driving during peak earning hours, like late-night bar runs, due to safety concerns.
This expansion isn’t just for adults, either. For the first time, this safety feature is being extended to teen accounts. Now, parents can request a woman driver for their kids, if they wish to do so.
Why now?
To put it simply, due to research and feedback. Uber reports that nearly 75% of women riders supported this option, and after successful pilots in cities like L.A. and Detroit, it’s finally hitting the streets nationwide.
So, next time you’re heading out in Gaslamp or catching a ride to the airport, check your app, and choose what’s most comfortable for you.