Uber has announced the expansion of its ‘Women Preferences’ feature to 26 additional cities across the country, broadening the initiative that allows women riders and drivers greater choice and comfort during their trips. The update also introduces the option for teen riders to request women drivers for the first time.

Initially launched as a pilot earlier this year, the feature was developed to give women more control over how they ride and drive. According to Uber, feedback from both riders and drivers during the trial period has been overwhelmingly positive, with many reporting increased comfort and confidence when using the option.

For Riders
Women riders now have three ways to connect with women drivers. They can select the Women Drivers option when requesting an on-demand trip, use the Reserve function to pre-book a journey with a woman driver, or set a long-term preference for women drivers within the app’s settings. While Uber notes that a match with a woman driver cannot always be guaranteed, enabling this feature increases the likelihood of being paired with one.

For Drivers
Women drivers can activate the Women Rider Preference setting in their app to receive trip requests specifically from women riders. This feature, Uber says, provides greater flexibility and choice for women who prefer to drive female passengers. Drivers can switch the preference off at any time if they wish to accept requests from all riders.

Uber confirmed that the preference will soon be rolled out to women drivers nationwide. The company described the move as an important step in attracting more women to the platform and supporting existing women drivers through safer and more flexible earning opportunities.

Now Available for Teen Accounts
In a major update, Uber has also extended the Women Preferences feature to teen accounts. The change follows two years of consultations with parents, many of whom expressed a strong desire for the option to request women drivers for their teenage children.

In cities where both Teen Accounts and Women Preferences are available, teenagers will now be able to request women drivers directly. Parents or guardians booking rides on behalf of their teens will also have the choice to select or reserve a trip with a woman driver.

Since first introducing the feature in Saudi Arabia in 2019, following a change in local laws that permitted women to drive, Uber has continued to gather feedback from women riders and drivers worldwide. The company said these insights have guided ongoing efforts to improve the experience for women on the platform.

Uber stated that the expansion to more than two dozen cities marks a significant milestone in its goal to make travel safer and more inclusive, adding that it plans to bring Women Preferences to more locations across the country in the near future.