Uber is expanding its feature allowing women riders to request female drivers to Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Detroit. The option, already available in 40 countries, provides multiple ways for women to select a female driver, including pre-booking and adjusting app settings. While this preference may increase wait times, riders can opt for faster alternatives. Female drivers can also choose to receive requests only from women riders. Uber emphasizes that both drivers and riders must verify their identities, advising users to report any discrepancies.

The company cites its safety reports, the most recent covering 2021-2022, showing a 22% decrease in reported serious sexual assault and misconduct incidents to 2,717. This initiative builds upon a 2019 launch in Saudi Arabia and subsequent testing and refinement in markets such as Germany and France to ensure reliability. Uber VP of Operations for the US and Canada, Camiel Irving, highlights the challenge of making the service reliably function with gender-based preferences.

Impact Statement: This expansion aims to improve safety for women using the Uber platform, addressing concerns about sexual harassment and assault.