Latest news with #UberX
Hindustan Times
24-07-2025
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Uber to test new safety measure in US: Pairing women riders and drivers
Uber Technologies Inc. is piloting a new ride type in the US that will match female riders and drivers, expanding access to a safety feature it already offers in some international markets. Riders will see a new on-demand ride option called 'Women Drivers' alongside the existing UberX, Comfort, UberXL and Black offerings. (Unsplash/Representational) The service will launch in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Detroit over the next few weeks, the company said in a statement Wednesday. Riders will see a new on-demand ride option called 'Women Drivers' alongside the existing UberX, Comfort, UberXL and Black offerings. Customers can reserve such a trip in advance, or set their preference in the app settings to increase the likelihood of being matched with a woman driver. Female drivers, who make up about 1 in 5 of Uber's US driver population, can similarly choose that preference in the settings of their driver app. Drivers' eligibility for the program will be based on the gender listed on their license. For riders, it will be determined by their first name or whether they specified their gender as female on their Uber profile. 'It's about giving women more choice, more control, and more comfort when they ride and drive,' said Camiel Irving, vice president of operations in the US and Canada. Cities that have a bigger population of women drivers will be the ones that get the feature sooner, she said, but added that the three options are designed to allow different ways of matching without compromising wait times and service availability. The company also sees the option as a way to attract more female drivers to the platform. 'The product is really popular whenever we're able to launch it,' said Irving. 'Our expectation is that it's going to be just as popular in the US both with drivers and with prospective drivers.' The introduction of the feature comes nearly two years after rival Lyft Inc. introduced a similar offering in the US, underscoring a tit-for-tat competition between the two rideshare apps to win over customers with features tailored to certain demographics. Earlier this year, for instance, the two companies rolled out simplified versions of their apps for elderly riders in close succession. In May, Uber also introduced a $2.99 monthly pass aimed at commuters that lets users lock in prices for for favorite routes. The launch came months after Lyft debuted a similar product. However, unlike Lyft's women-matching program, which also includes non-binary users, Uber's product is solely for those with commonly identifiable feminine names or those who identify as female in the app. The company has had 'a couple of conversations' with LGBTQ organizations and concluded this 'is not quite the right way to serve the non-binary population right now,' Irving said in an interview. Uber launched the matching feature for female drivers in Saudi Arabia in 2019 to mark a landmark decision that granted women the right to drive. Since then, it said, it's completed more than 100 million such trips having expanded the feature to drivers in 40 countries including Australia, Brazil, Canada, India and Mexico. It has also tested the feature for riders in Germany and France.
The Hill
23-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Hill
Uber unveils ‘Women Preference' feature for drivers, riders
Women in select U.S. cities will soon be able to express a preference for female Uber drivers and riders in the popular ride-sharing service, the company announced Wednesday. Uber said pilot programs will roll out in the next few weeks in Los Angeles, Detroit and San Francisco. The company previously launched the system abroad, where women can request female drivers and riders in 40 countries. The program first launched in Saudi Arabia in 2019 and expanded after receiving an 'overwhelmingly positive' response, the company said. A spokesperson for Uber told The Hill that the company doesn't yet have a target launch date for other American cities but added, 'we're excited to learn from these pilots and bring these features to more cities soon.' The rollout comes as Uber has recorded thousands of incidents of sexual assaults throughout the years and has taken steps to mitigate the risk for women. 'Across the US, women riders and drivers have told us they want the option to be matched with other women on trips. We've heard them—and now we're introducing new ways to give them even more control over how they ride and drive,' Uber's press release Wednesday read. Uber is providing its female app users different ways to request rides with other women. After verifying their own gender on the app, female riders will see 'Women Drivers' as an on-demand option — along with UberX, UberXL, Black, Wait & Save and others — when they go to request a ride. Similarly, riders can reserve trips in advance with female drivers. Both riders and drivers can alternatively toggle the preference for women in their app settings. Lyft, a competitor to Uber, rolled out pilots for the 'Women+ Connect' option in September 2023, expanding it nationwide in February 2024.
Los Angeles Times
23-07-2025
- Automotive
- Los Angeles Times
Uber tests option to match female riders and drivers
Uber Technologies Inc. is piloting a new ride type in the US that will match female riders and drivers, expanding access to a safety feature it already offers in some international markets. The service will launch in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Detroit over the next few weeks, the company said in a statement Wednesday. Riders will see a new on-demand ride option called 'Women Drivers' alongside the existing UberX, Comfort, UberXL and Black offerings. Customers can reserve such a trip in advance, or set their preference in the app settings to increase the likelihood of being matched with a woman driver. Female drivers, who make up about 1 in 5 of Uber's US driver population, can similarly choose that preference in the settings of their driver app. Drivers' eligibility for the program will be based on the gender listed on their license. For riders, it will be determined by their first name or whether they specified their gender as female on their Uber profile. 'It's about giving women more choice, more control, and more comfort when they ride and drive,' said Camiel Irving, vice president of operations in the US and Canada. Cities that have a bigger population of women drivers will be the ones that get the feature sooner, she said, but added that the three options are designed to allow different ways of matching without compromising wait times and service availability. The company also sees the option as a way to attract more female drivers to the platform. 'The product is really popular whenever we're able to launch it,' said Irving. 'Our expectation is that it's going to be just as popular in the US both with drivers and with prospective drivers.' The introduction of the feature comes nearly two years after rival Lyft Inc. introduced a similar offering in the US, underscoring a tit-for-tat competition between the two rideshare apps to win over customers with features tailored to certain demographics. Earlier this year, for instance, the two companies rolled out simplified versions of their apps for elderly riders in close succession. In May, Uber also introduced a $2.99 monthly pass aimed at commuters that lets users lock in prices for for favorite routes. The launch came months after Lyft debuted a similar product. However, unlike Lyft's women-matching program, which also includes non-binary users, Uber's product is solely for those with commonly identifiable feminine names or those who identify as female in the app. The company has had 'a couple of conversations' with LGBTQ organizations and concluded this 'is not quite the right way to serve the non-binary population right now,' Irving said in an interview. Uber launched the matching feature for female drivers in Saudi Arabia in 2019 to mark a landmark decision that granted women the right to drive. Since then, it said, it's completed more than 100 million such trips having expanded the feature to drivers in 40 countries including Australia, Brazil, Canada, India and Mexico. It has also tested the feature for riders in Germany and France. Lung writes for Bloomberg.
The Age
22-07-2025
- Business
- The Age
Paula wanted to travel with her guide dog, but Uber drivers kept cancelling
Hobley, in her response to Uber's defence, hit back at the notion that she and other riders enter into agreements with drivers directly. She notes Uber sends customers a receipt after each trip totalling the amount they paid to the company for point-to-point transport services, and that the receipts don't detail the amount their driver is paid. The ride-share company offers an 'Uber pet' booking class, alongside other options such as 'Uber X', but under its rules, riders with assistance animals do not need to book the specific pet option. Instead, customers who travel with assistance animals can opt in to a program that identifies them as travelling with an animal to drivers who accept their trip. When drivers, some of whom may prefer not to accept Uber pet trips, accept a regular trip request and are then notified that the customer will be travelling with an assistance animal, the app generates a notification that drivers are legally obliged under anti-discrimination law to accept the trip. However, Hobley claims drivers routinely cancel on her, causing her to become stranded and miss medical appointments and social functions. Hobley, in comments made before Uber filed its defence, alleged Uber had taken a 'softly-softly' approach to enforcing drivers' legal obligations. 'If I can't find a driver who will take me to essential appointments, my only other option is a long, indirect trip on public transport,' Hobley said this year, adding that what is a 10-minute car trip to an appointment near her place takes nearly an hour by bus. The experience of having trips cancelled has become 'too draining', to the point that Hobley avoids certain activities due to the risk of a cancellation. 'I need to be able to travel without stress and considerable pre-planning, just like most people do. This is a right, not a privilege,' Hobley said. Hobley said she was not asking for special treatment but had launched the legal action – in which the Justice and Equity Centre are representing her – so that drivers 'do their job and Uber enforce that'. The legal standing of Uber's claim is unclear. Alastair McEwin, who formerly served as Australia's disability discrimination commissioner and is a professor of practice in disability at the University of NSW, said a disabled person could not be refused service because of a disability support they require, such as an assistance animal. Contractors were covered by the act, he said. Loading He also questioned Uber's claim of unjustifiable hardship, noting carrying assistance animals did not cost extra and that Uber had not specified hardships such as cleaning charges. 'If the court were to find in Uber's favour in this case, it could potentially set a dangerous precedent that global organisations like Uber do not have to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act and therefore have no obligation to be accessible for disabled people,' McEwin says. Lee Kumutat, advocacy and policy manager at Guide Dogs Australia, said Hobley's experiences were 'all too common'. Kumutat pointed to research by the organisation that found 50 per cent of people requiring guide dogs had had an issue with ride-share or taxi companies in the past two years, with more than one-third saying their trip was cancelled. 'Uber should not be above the law when it comes to discrimination,' Kumutat says. An Uber spokesperson said if a driver refused service to a rider with an assistance animal, they must pass a test, and that a second refusal may result in permanent loss of access to its Uber driver app. 'The distress of being refused service because of an assistance animal is not something we take lightly at Uber, and we know this is a significant issue across broader society,' the spokesperson said, defending the company's investment tools and education 'to ensure drivers understand their legal obligation'. A mediation hearing is set for September.
Tahawul Tech
17-07-2025
- Automotive
- Tahawul Tech
'Women across Saudi Arabia have shown how mobility can open the door to new possibilities.' – Youssef Abouseif, Uber KSA
As Saudi Arabia celebrates seven years since the historic decision that allowed women to drive, Uber has announced the upcoming launch of its new 'Women Drivers' product, designed to give women riders the option to be matched exclusively with women drivers. The feature builds on Uber's commitment to empowering women through mobility and flexible economic opportunities. The 'Women Drivers' product allows women riders to book rides exclusively with women drivers via the Uber app, expanding economic opportunities for Saudi women while enhancing rider choice. The initiative aligns with Uber's long-term vision for a more inclusive platform and forms part of its broader commitment to support the participation of women in the Saudi economy. The product is also designed for ease of use to ensure women feel comfortable and empowered. It will be available gradually for riders in the coming weeks. Here's how the product works: On-demand – The Women Drivers product allows women riders to be matched with Women Drivers. The product functions just like UberX and is selectable from the product mini-list with similar prices as Uber X. – The Women Drivers product allows women riders to be matched with Women Drivers. The product functions just like UberX and is selectable from the product mini-list with similar prices as Uber X. Reserve – For women riders looking for added structure and planning, they can reserve a ride with a women driver up to 30 minutes in advance through the Uber Reserve feature. Youssef Abouseif, KSA GM at Uber, said, Women across Saudi Arabia have shown how mobility can open the door to new possibilities. At Uber, we see that future as electric, shared, and autonomous – but also inclusive. The launch of the 'Women Drivers' product reflects our commitment to empowering women and supporting their mobility and economic independence. We're continuing to support women who choose to drive via the Uber app – giving them more choice, more opportunity, and a stronger sense of community. We're also thrilled to witness this dynamic change unfold in Saudi Arabia, and we firmly believe initiatives like these play a pivotal role in Saudi Vision 2030.' Empowering Saudi women through Al Nahda partnership and GigSister events Uber is proud to announce its partnership with Alnahda Society, a leading non-profit organization established in 1962 with a mission to empower women both economically and socially. This collaboration aims to support women in mobility through capacity-building initiatives, including financial literacy programs, by equipping women with essential skills. The initiative paves the way for economic independence and opens up opportunities such as driving via the Uber app. This effort builds on Uber's previous collaboration with Alnahda through the Masaruky initiative, which supported thousands of women in joining the workforce by helping them learn to drive and obtain a driver's license. Additionally, Uber will host its first GigSister program in Saudi Arabia, creating a dedicated space for women drivers to connect, share experiences, and foster a supportive local community. These initiatives highlight how Uber is going beyond mobility to actively invest in the development and success of women across the Kingdom. Over the years, Uber has introduced a series of programs in Saudi Arabia, from the Wusool initiative, which has supported over 20 million subsidized rides for women, to Women Rider Preference, which allows women drivers to choose if they want to exclusively pick-up women riders. Each of these initiatives has been carefully curated to advance women's participation in the workforce and align with the Kingdom's broader socio-economic goals. By integrating innovation, empowerment, and local insights, Uber continues to provide tangible solutions that address the unique needs of women in Saudi Arabia. With this latest product launch and new partnerships, Uber remains committed to fostering an inclusive, supportive, and progressive platform for all.
