Uber Launches Nationwide Women Preferences Feature

Uber Technologies Inc. announced on Monday the nationwide rollout of its Women Preferences feature across the United States, allowing female riders and drivers to opt for matches with other women during trips. The expansion aims to enhance safety and comfort on the ride-hailing platform, building on pilots launched in select cities last summer.

The feature, first introduced globally in 2019 following the lifting of Saudi Arabia's driving ban for women, enables riders to request a female driver through a dedicated option in the app, labeled "Women Drivers." This appears alongside standard services like UberX, Comfort, UberXL, and Black. Users can book such rides on demand, though if wait times exceed expectations, they may choose a faster general ride. Reservations in advance or setting a preference in the app's options menu can increase the chances of a preferred match, but Uber notes there is no guarantee due to varying driver availability. In areas supporting teen accounts, younger riders or their guardians can also request female drivers for added reassurance.

Women drivers, who make up about one-fifth of Uber's U.S. workforce, can similarly set preferences to receive trip...