Uber rolls out women-only option in the US

March 10, 2026

Uber has expanded its women-matching feature nationwide in the United States, enabling female drivers and passengers to request rides exclusively with other women through the app. This feature, which was tested domestically last year and already operates in dozens of countries internationally, aims to help women feel safer and more comfortable using the ride-sharing platform. The rollout is occurring amid legal challenges in California, where male drivers have filed a class action lawsuit claiming the feature violates anti-discrimination laws by potentially limiting their access to customers.

Who is affected

Female Uber drivers and passengers in the United States
Male Uber drivers (particularly those filing the California class action lawsuit)
Teens with Uber accounts and their parents
Two California Uber drivers who filed the discrimination lawsuit
Women and non-binary users of Lyft (facing similar lawsuit)
A woman awarded $8.5 million in a rape case involving an Uber driver

What action is being taken

Uber is launching the women-matching feature across the US
Two California Uber drivers are pursuing a class action lawsuit against Uber
Uber has filed a motion to stop litigation and move the case to private arbitration
Lyft is facing a discrimination lawsuit over its similar matching feature

Why it matters

This matters because it addresses significant safety concerns expressed by women using ride-sharing platforms, particularly in light of serious incidents like the recent $8.5 million rape verdict against Uber. The feature represents a tension between enhancing personal safety for a vulnerable population and maintaining equal access to economic opportunities for all drivers. The outcome of the legal challenges could set precedents for how technology companies balance anti-discrimination laws with safety-focused services, potentially affecting policies at Uber, Lyft, and other platforms across the industry.

What's next

Uber intends to appeal the $8.5 million verdict in the rape case
The California class action lawsuit will proceed either through litigation or private arbitration depending on the court's ruling on Uber's motion

Read full article from source: BBC