In a world where we can track a pizza to our front door with military precision, it has taken Uber remarkably long to figure out that women might not want to hop into a stranger’s car at 2 am. The ride hailing giant just rolled out its “Women Preferences” feature across the whole of the US. This allows female drivers and passengers to request a ride with other women. It is a bold move that basically says, “We know the back seat can feel like a horror movie trailer, so here is a toggle to fix that.”
Uber says this nationwide launch follows a pilot program where women felt more confident and comfortable. It turns out that not having to worry about creepy small talk or being followed home is quite a popular request. Women can now book female drivers in advance or flick a switch in the app to boost their chances of a same sex match. Even parents of teens can join in on the fun, requesting women drivers for their kids.
The Great Dude Debate
Of course, you cannot try to make things safer without someone shouting “but what about me?” A group of male drivers in California has filed a class action lawsuit. They claim that letting women pick women is a form of sex discrimination. Their argument is essentially that they are losing out on fares because they happen to be men. One can only imagine the boardroom meetings where they decided that “safety for women” was actually a secret plot to ruin the bank accounts of Dave and Steve from San Diego.
Uber is currently trying to shove this lawsuit into private arbitration. They argue that protecting people from assault is a pretty solid public interest. This legal spat is happening while Uber still deals with the fallout of a massive $8.5 million payout to a woman who was raped by a driver. The company tried to argue it was not responsible for the criminal acts of its independent contractors, but the jury was not buying it.
A Global Game of Musical Chairs
While the US is just now getting the full experience, this feature has been a hit in 40 other countries for years. Saudi Arabia has had it since 2019, which is quite the plot twist. If you are a woman in Riyadh, you have had more control over your commute than a woman in New York for the last seven years.
Lyft is also in the firing line for a similar feature that includes non-binary passengers. It seems the future of getting from A to B is less about the car and more about who is holding the steering wheel. If the courts decide that safety is a luxury we cannot afford to protect, we might all be back to walking.
At least on the bright side, if your female driver takes a wrong turn, you can both laugh about it without checking if the child locks are on.
Related topic: North America
