Uber has expanded its Women Rider Preferences, a feature designed to give women more control, more flexibility, and a greater sense of safety when requesting a ride.
With the latest update, women riders now have three clear ways to choose trips with women drivers through on demand requests, reservations, and in app preferences. This enhanced set of options reflects a growing trend in the gig and rideshare industry toward more personalized safety features and continues Uber’s focus on supporting women riders and women drivers in real time.
Why Women Rider Preferences Matter
Women Rider Preferences first launched in several regions as a pilot program. Its purpose was simple, to increase comfort, safety, and trust during rides. With more women entering rideshare as both passengers and drivers, the platform saw an opportunity to create a structured system that makes matches between women riders and women drivers easier to access. The feature has now expanded significantly, and the company has outlined three distinct ways riders can use it.
Requesting Women Drivers On Demand
When requesting a ride on demand, women riders now see a clear option labeled Women Drivers during the selection process. This option is visible at the same time they choose their ride type. Riders can tap Women Drivers to request a match specifically with a woman driver. If the estimated wait time is longer than expected, the rider has the choice to continue waiting or switch back to a standard ride for a quicker pickup.
This flexibility ensures that women riders can prioritize either speed or comfort depending on their needs in the moment.
Reserve a Woman Driver in Advance
For riders who prefer more planning and convenience, Uber’s Reserve feature now supports Women Rider Preferences as well. With Reserve, riders can book trips in advance and choose a woman driver during the scheduling process. This option is ideal for airport drop offs, medical appointments, work travel, special events, or any scenario where riders want to ensure their trip is confirmed and aligned with their personal preferences. With the Reserve option, the process is less about reacting to on demand availability and more about certainty. Riders know ahead of time that they will be matched with a woman driver whenever possible.
Setting a Women Preference in App Settings
The third option is a new in app setting that lets women riders turn on the Women Preference directly in their account. This means the preference remains active across all trip requests unless manually turned off. While it cannot guarantee a match every time, Uber states that turning on the preference significantly increases the likelihood of being paired with a woman driver whenever one is available in the area. This setting is designed for riders who want the preference to be part of their default experience rather than choosing it individually for each ride.
What This Means for Women Drivers
Women drivers also receive new tools and flexibility with this update. Drivers can toggle on the Women Rider Preference in their app settings to start receiving trip requests from women riders who have activated the feature. Turning this setting on allows women drivers to take trips in ways that better match their comfort levels and work style. It also creates a more predictable and secure environment for women earning on the platform. If a driver chooses to accept all riders again, the preference can be switched off at any time with a single tap.
One of the major benefits of this update is that it supports women drivers in earning on their terms. Many women drivers appreciate rides that feel safer, more comfortable, and more predictable. By allowing them to prioritize trips with women riders, Uber gives women drivers both the freedom to choose and the confidence to work during times or in areas they may have otherwise avoided. This expands economic opportunities in a meaningful way and aligns with gig industry trends where driver empowerment and safety continue to be major priorities.
Rideshare Safety and Personalization
The expansion also supports a broader shift happening across mobility platforms. Riders increasingly expect more control over their trip experience. Personalized preferences, safety filters, and specialized matching options are becoming standard in modern transportation services. Women Rider Preferences follow this direction closely, giving riders a sense of assurance while improving the overall user experience.
Importantly, Uber emphasized that the system is flexible. Riders are never locked into the preference. Drivers can change their settings at any time. The feature is built around choice rather than restriction. It is meant to encourage comfort without limiting freedom for either side.
Looking forward, features like Women Rider Preferences may continue expanding into more cities and markets. As rideshare becomes more integrated into daily life and more women begin using the service regularly, demand for options like these is likely to grow. Transportation safety remains a key concern for women globally, and programs like this serve as a meaningful step toward addressing those concerns through technology and user driven settings.
Uber’s expansion of Women Rider Preferences demonstrates an increasing awareness of how safety and comfort define the rideshare experience. By providing multiple ways to request women drivers, empowering women drivers with the freedom to choose the types of trips they want to accept, and creating more flexible earning opportunities, the company AND industry is moving toward a more inclusive and supportive platform for women on both sides of the trip experience.
Published by DeliverySoCal.com, story originally published by Uber Newsroom.
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