Uber’s New Women-Only Driver Option Is Long Overdue — And It Could Save Lives

Uber just rolled out a new feature in Canada and select cities worldwide that allows women and nonbinary riders to request female drivers — and honestly, it’s about damn time.

For years, women have sounded the alarm on the terrifyingly common stories of harassment, sexual assault, and even murder at the hands of male rideshare drivers. From late-night rides gone wrong to inappropriate comments and full-on attacks, the pattern has been clear: women aren’t safe in the back seat. And until now, Uber — a company that’s made billions off of getting people from point A to point B — hadn’t offered any real structural solution to protect the people most vulnerable to harm.

This new feature, dubbed Women Rider Preference, is currently being tested in a few North American markets, and if all goes well, could be rolled out more widely. Here’s how it works: female and nonbinary Uber users can opt in to only be matched with female or nonbinary drivers. It’s optional, but for many, it could mean the difference between feeling safe on a ride home… or not getting in the car at all.

Let’s be clear: this isn’t a “perk.” This is survival.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

A 2022 report revealed that Uber received almost 1,000 reports of sexual assault in just one year. These are only the incidents that were officially reported — countless more likely went unspoken due to shame, fear of not being believed, or simply not knowing where to turn. In several high-profile cases, women were murdered by drivers they trusted to get them home safely. Uber’s background checks and driver screenings haven’t been enough.

This new feature is a direct response to years of public outcry and community advocacy. Women have demanded safer alternatives, whether that meant designated “pink taxis” in some countries or forming informal group chats to share their Uber rides in real time.

Now, a corporate giant is finally catching up to what we’ve known all along: when women say they don’t feel safe, it’s not paranoia — it’s precaution.

Gendered Safety Is Not Optional

Critics have already crawled out of the woodwork claiming this feature is “discriminatory” or “unfair to male drivers.” Spare us. The real injustice is the decades of normalized fear women have had to carry just to get a ride home. Women have altered their clothing, pretended to be on the phone, and memorized exit routes in case something goes left. That’s not a normal way to live — that’s trauma in motion.

Creating safer spaces for marginalized genders isn’t exclusion — it’s equity. And in an industry where male drivers outnumber women significantly, it’s also a huge opportunity to uplift and economically empower more women and nonbinary folks to join the platform as drivers, knowing they’re less likely to be harassed or mistreated on the job.

What Needs to Happen Next

• Global rollout, no hesitation. Every woman, everywhere, deserves this level of choice and safety.
• Transparency and accountability. Uber must remain clear about how it vets drivers and ensures that the people requesting women drivers aren’t being matched with men by mistake.
• Listen to survivors. This feature should be shaped by the voices of those who’ve experienced harm — not just product managers in a boardroom.

Let’s be real: women have never been asking for the moon. We’ve been asking to get home in one piece.

Uber’s new women-only matching feature is a step in the right direction — but the fight for safer transportation isn’t over. It’s just getting started.