Uber has announced the launch of its Women Preferences feature in select U.S. cities, aimed at providing women riders and drivers with more control over their travel experiences.
According to Uber's official newsroom, the Women Preferences feature was first introduced in Saudi Arabia in 2019 after a landmark law granted women the right to drive. The response was described as "overwhelmingly positive," which prompted the global expansion of the feature. Since its inception, it has been implemented in 40 countries and facilitated over 100 million trips, demonstrating both user demand and operational scalability.
The upcoming pilot program in the United States will be launched in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Detroit. Uber states that the timing for this rollout was chosen based on feedback from riders and drivers as well as platform usability considerations. Safety-focused groups and survivor-centered organizations have long advocated for gender-responsive ride options. Uber refined the feature through testing in diverse markets such as Germany and France to ensure its reliability. The implementation details indicate that while options like "Women Drivers" or "Women Riders" increase match likelihood, they are not guaranteed due to design complexity and user expectations.
Uber cited 2,717 cases of sexual assault and misconduct in the U.S. between 2021 and 2022 according to its most recent safety report published in August 2024. This figure reflects ongoing efforts to improve safety. Uber’s latest initiative aims to provide agency and reassurance to women who have expressed concerns about vulnerability during rides. The new preferences are presented as a tangible update to the platform’s suite of safety features, signaling a company-wide shift toward gender-aware user design.
Founded in 2009 and based in San Francisco, Uber Technologies Inc. is one of the world’s largest mobility platforms. It operates in approximately 70 countries and over 10,500 cities, offering services that include ride-hailing, food delivery, freight logistics, among others. The company coordinates millions of trips daily and continues to expand its global footprint through technological innovation and strategic partnerships.