Uber has introduced the “Uber by Women” option, allowing female riders to be driven exclusively by female drivers, enhancing safety amid concerns of harassment. Currently piloted in Île-de-France, this initiative aims to provide choices for women travelers. Despite longer wait times due to a low percentage of female drivers, ride prices remain unchanged. The program also seeks to increase female driver participation, responding to rising safety concerns highlighted by incidents of sexual assault linked to rides.
Introducing the ‘Uber by Women’ Option
Uber has launched a new feature aimed at enhancing safety for female riders: the “Uber by Women” option. As reported on November 28, 2024, this new feature guarantees that female customers will be driven exclusively by female drivers. Following the introduction of a similar option for teenagers, this initiative aims to provide a safer travel experience for women, addressing concerns around sexual assaults and harassment during rides.
A Step Towards Enhanced Safety for Female Riders
Laureline Serieys, the CEO of Uber France, emphasized that this initiative is not about suggesting that women can only travel safely with female drivers, but rather about offering them a choice. She reiterated that the company is committed to ongoing efforts to improve safety and combat sexual violence, collaborating with women’s rights organizations and cybersecurity professionals.
The “Uber by Women” feature is currently being piloted in Île-de-France, with plans to expand based on its success. While this option is also available in countries like Poland and various parts of Latin America, it is essential to note that it will only be activated in areas where there are sufficient female drivers to meet demand. For now, with only about 3% of drivers in the Paris region being women, female passengers may experience longer wait times, potentially stretching from 15 to 20 minutes.
Despite the longer wait, Uber assures users that ride prices will remain the same as those with male drivers. However, the company is aware of the challenges posed by the current gender imbalance among drivers and is actively working to encourage more women to join the platform. To incentivize female drivers, Uber is temporarily reducing its service fees from 25% to 15% until the end of February.
The launch of “Uber by Women” responds to a pressing concern: numerous reports of sexual assaults linked to Uber rides. In 2018, the service reported over 3,000 incidents of sexual assault, including 235 rapes. This alarming statistic has sparked movements like #UberCestOver, calling for better safety measures for female passengers.
While Uber has already implemented several safety features, including ride tracking and emergency assistance, questions remain about the effectiveness of these initiatives. Women’s safety advocates are particularly concerned about ensuring that only verified female drivers participate in this new option. Uber has stated that they have systems in place for identity verification, including random selfie requests to confirm a driver’s identity.
As this new feature unfolds, it poses additional questions for the safety of female drivers. While they can refuse to transport male passengers under the “Uber by Women” initiative, concerns about their safety when driving at night persist. Currently, Uber does not collect gender data on customers, which complicates efforts to ensure female drivers can operate safely without fear of harassment.
Overall, “Uber by Women” represents a significant step toward creating a safer environment for female riders and drivers alike, but it also opens the door to ongoing discussions about the broader societal issues of safety and gender equality in transportation.