© Bob Self/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK
(San Francisco, CA) — Uber is launching a new feature in the U.S. that pairs women drivers and female passengers. The ride-share company will begin piloting the feature in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Detroit next month, marking its latest move to address safety on the platform.
The company said the rider’s preference isn’t guaranteed but the feature increases the chances women will be paired in the app. Uber also said it tested the feature in countries including France, Germany and Argentina.
How it Works:
Request on-demand: When requesting a trip on-demand, women riders will see an option called Women Drivers. If the wait time is longer than anticipated, they can always opt for another ride with a faster pickup.
Reserve in advance: For more planning and certainty, women riders can use the Reserve function to pre-book trips with women drivers.
Set a preference: Riders can also set a preference for a woman driver in their app settings. While it’s not guaranteed, turning on the Women preference increases your chances of being matched with a woman driver.
Soon, women drivers will also have the option to request trips with fellow female riders, including during peak earning hours like evenings.
