by San Diego, Calif. — Uber is expanding its women-centered safety and comfort program to San Diego, giving female riders and drivers new options to match exclusively with one another.
Uber Brings “Women Preferences” Feature to San Diego
Uber announced that its “Women Preferences” program — first piloted in cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Detroit — is now available in San Diego.
The program is designed to enhance safety and comfort by allowing women riders to choose women drivers and vice versa. According to the company, the feature gives riders and drivers more control and flexibility over their travel experience.
Uber’s vice president of U.S. and Canada operations, Camiel Irving, said in a statement that the goal is simple:
“It’s about giving women more choice, more control, and more comfort when they ride and drive.”
Three Ways Women Can Request Women Drivers
Women riders now have multiple options to pair with women drivers:
Request on Demand
When booking a regular ride, women will see a “Women Drivers” option. If the wait time is too long, they can still switch to another ride with a faster pickup.
Reserve in Advance
Riders can also pre-book a trip with a woman driver through Uber Reserve, allowing for more predictability and planning.
Set a Preference
Women can turn on a driver preference in their app settings. While not guaranteed, enabling the option boosts the likelihood of being matched with a woman driver.
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Women Drivers Gain More Control Over Trips
Uber noted that women drivers will also have the ability to choose women riders, including during busy peak earning hours. This is intended to give drivers greater earning flexibility, while maintaining a focus on safety and comfort.
The company first launched Women Rider Preference in Saudi Arabia in 2019, and it has since expanded widely. The new rollout adds 26 more U.S. cities, with plans to continue growing.
Feature Will Also Extend to Teen Riders
Uber said that the same preference matching will soon be available for teen riders, who will also be able to request or reserve rides with women drivers.
Lyft Offers a Similar Feature
Uber isn’t alone in this area. Rival ride-hailing service Lyft has its own option for pairing female riders and drivers, called Women+ Connect.
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