Uber has expanded its women rider-preference feature to 26 additional cities, marking one of the company’s largest rollouts of safety-focused rider choice to date. The update was confirmed in an official announcement published by Uber Newsroom.
How the feature works for women riders
According to Uber’s announcement, women using the app can now:
- Select a “Women Drivers” option when requesting a trip.
- Switch back to a standard ride if wait times are too long.
- Pre-book a journey with a woman driver through Reserve, available in participating cities.
- Set a long-term preference in the app to increase the likelihood of being matched with a woman driver (not guaranteed).
How it works for women drivers
Uber says women drivers can activate a “Women Rider Preference” toggle to receive trip requests primarily from women riders. Drivers can turn the feature on or off at any time, giving them greater control over who they accept trips from.
Uber also confirmed that the feature will be rolled out to women drivers nationwide in the US.
Teen accounts now included
For the first time, parents booking rides for teens in eligible cities will see an option to request a woman driver. Reserved rides for teens can also be matched with a woman driver where available.
Why the expansion matters
The move reflects a growing global trend towards choice-based safety features in private hire and ride-hail services. Although this rollout currently applies to the United States, the concept is gaining attention internationally — including within the UK taxi and PHV sector, where gender-preference options have long been debated for both safety and cultural-sensitivity reasons.
Uber’s announcement notes that this expansion is based on strong demand from drivers and riders, signalling that the model may continue to grow.
DM News Commentary
Women-only or women-preferred ride options have been discussed in the UK for years, but major platforms have been slow to commit. Uber’s expansion in the US shows there is significant rider appetite for gender-preference tools — and strong interest from women drivers seeking more control over who they pick up.
If adopted in the UK, such a feature could influence recruitment, retention, and market competition, especially as councils look for ways to improve safety and diversity in the taxi and private hire trade.
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