(qlmbusinessnews.com . Wed 11th Mar, 2026) London, UK —
Navigating Safety and Discrimination: Uber's New Female-Driven Service Faces Legal Challenges
Uber Introduces Women-Only Ride Option in the US Amid Legal Controversy
Uber has unveiled a new feature in the United States that enables female drivers and passengers to choose to travel with other women, aiming to enhance comfort and confidence for women using the ride-hailing service.
Following a successful pilot in the US last year, which Uber claims made women feel safer as both passengers and drivers, the option is now available nationwide. This innovation arrives amidst a class-action lawsuit in California wherein drivers allege that the option discriminates against male drivers.
The company reveals that women constitute approximately 20% of its US driver base, with the figure varying from city to city. Launched on Monday, Uber's Women Preferences feature is a response to feedback from female users seeking greater agency in their travel and work with Uber.
The feature allows women to either book a trip with a female driver in advance or adjust their settings to increase the chances of such a match. Furthermore, in regions where Uber offers accounts for teenagers, young female users and their guardians can specifically request female drivers.
However, the feature has sparked controversy and legal challenges. Two Uber drivers in California have accused the firm of breaching state laws by potentially offering female drivers more work opportunities. The Associated Press reports that Uber has sought to halt the lawsuit, proposing private arbitration based on the drivers' contractual agreement upon joining the platform. Uber argues that the feature does not infringe the Unruh Civil Rights Act, which outlaws sex-based discrimination by businesses, asserting that it significantly contributes to passenger safety.
Complicating the landscape of gender-specific ride features, Lyft faces a similar lawsuit over its own system allowing passengers and drivers to prefer women and non-binary individuals, introduced in 2024.
In a related legal development, Uber was recently mandated by a US court to compensate a woman with $8.5 million (£6.2 million) following an assault by an Uber driver. While Uber sought to distance itself from liability by highlighting its drivers' independent contractor status and its background check processes, the judgment may influence numerous similar cases.
Despite the controversies in the United States, Uber has rolled out this woman-matching service for drivers in over 40 countries and for passengers in seven countries, including Spain, Brazil, and Saudi Arabia, signalling its commitment to enhancing safety and inclusivity for women globally.
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