A new Uber feature that gives women more control over how they ride and drive on the platform has rolled out in New Orleans.
Why it matters: Safety and comfort have long been top concerns for women who use ride-hailing services, both as riders and drivers.
- Uber cited 2,717 cases of sexual assault and misconduct between 2021 and 2022 — a 22% drop from the year before — according to its latest U.S. safety report.
Driving the news: Uber launched its “Women Preferences” pilot over the summer in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Detroit.
- The company recently expanded it to New Orleans and 25 other cities.
How it works: Women riders will be able to choose “women drivers” when requesting a ride and set a permanent preference for women drivers in their account settings.
- Women drivers will be able to turn on a feature that allows them to receive requests only from women, even during high-demand hours.
Friction point: The feature has sparked backlash from conservative groups and a class-action lawsuit by male drivers in California who say it discriminates against men and limits their earning opportunities, Time reports…