As the Rebbe instructed: Uber has launched a new feature allowing women to choose female drivers, avoiding issues of tznius and yichud. Now piloting in three major U.S. cities to offer more comfort and control.

By Anash.org reporter

A new feature by Uber, allowing female riders to choose female drivers, will allow women to fulfill the Rebbe’s directive from 5751.

On Shabbos parshas Noach 5751, the Rebbe spoke about how the changes in women’s roles brought new challenges. For example, the Rebbe quoted the issue of traveling by taxi with a male driver, which can be an issue both of yichud and of tznius. The Rebbe advised women to request a female driver to eliminate these problems.

Yet, since the advent of Uber, which provides unparalleled convenience for taxi travel, there has not been such an option. However, starting next month, the company will pilot Women Preferences in three U.S. cities: Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Detroit.

The new feature allows women riders to increase their chances of being paired with women drivers by setting a preference in the app. They can also request on-demand rides through a new Women Drivers option or use Uber Reserve to schedule trips in advance with women drivers. While matches aren’t guaranteed, Uber says these preferences significantly raise the likelihood of women being paired together.

Women drivers will also be able to toggle on a Women Rider Preference to prioritize trip requests from women passengers, even during peak earning hours. According to Uber, this gives female drivers “more opportunities to earn on their terms with flexibility and confidence.”

“This is about providing women with more control, more comfort, and more choice as they use the platform,” said Camiel Irving, Uber’s head of operations for the U.S. and Canada.

Uber says the new feature is based on feedback from women in the U.S. who have long asked for more control over how they ride and drive. A similar version of the option was first introduced in Saudi Arabia in 2019 and has since expanded to 40 countries, completing over 100 million trips. The company refined the tool through real-world testing in places like France, Germany, and Argentina.

“As we expand Women Preferences across the U.S., we’ll continue improving the experience through education, partnerships, and features,” Uber said.

If the pilot proves successful, Uber may expand the feature nationwide.