Although it is a ‘positive’ news, I can’t help but think that I wish I didn’t have to write about this. The world-renowned private transportation company Uber has launched a new measure that it has dubbed ‘Preferences for Women’. This is a feature within the app where women drivers and passengers can set their preferences so that their services are only provided among women. Why is this measure necessary? The company faced numerous cases of harassment and sexual assaults between male drivers and women passengers. These were not isolated cases, but have been occurring for years. This is why Uber felt compelled to provide a solution and offer safety in transportation for women.
In 2019, similar versions had already been implemented, starting with Saudi Arabia shortly after the law allowing women to drive was approved. Before launching it in the United States, the design was perfected in Europe, in countries like Germany and France. It will finally arrive in the United States in the coming weeks, implementing the pilot program in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Detroit. The program does not guarantee that the service will be provided by women or that the passengers will be women, but it does seek to make it the preference.
Uber
Founded in 2009 by Travis Kalanick and Garrett Camp, Uber emerged in San Francisco, California, United States. Its full name is Uber Technologies, and it is a company that provides mobility as a service. With a presence in over 900 metropolitan areas around the globe, it still maintains its headquarters in San Francisco. The main goal of Uber is to connect people who need transportation with private drivers through an app. Drivers use their own vehicles and offer their services through the app. It is a more personalized and cheaper service than the regular taxi, and much more comfortable and quicker than urban transportation.
Preferences for Women
Uber already has preferences when hiring a service, such as whether you want music during the ride or not, if you prefer conversation or silence, or if the driver provides chargers or water during the trip. Additionally, there are also other options like UberXL, Comfort, Black, or Wait & Save. In the coming weeks, a new preference is expected to be added to the list, “Preferences for Women”.
This is an option that allows both female drivers and passengers to request the preference of being matched with another woman. As Uber stated in its official communication, “Across the United States, women who travel and drive have told us that they want the option to be matched with other women on their rides. We have listened to them”.
Why does this preference arise?
In recent years, Uber has received a flood of criticism for incidents of harassment and sexual assaults occurring during rides from men to women, whether they are passengers or drivers. For this reason, the company has decided to take action and implement this alternative so that women feel more comfortable when offering or requesting a ride. It is important to emphasize that this does not guarantee that pairings will always be between women, but it does increase the likelihood.
When did it start working?
In 2019, with the approval of the law that authorized women to drive, the company launched versions similar to this function. More than 40 countries joined. Since then, the company has refined the design in Europe, specifically in Germany and France. According to Uber, ‘We have worked hard to ensure that this feature is truly usable in different parts of the world. We tested it, listened, and perfected it in various markets.’ It will be starting in the coming weeks when the pilot program begins in the United States, starting in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Detroit, and it is expected to expand to the rest of the country.
Although this measure offers security to women, perhaps Uber has not considered the possibility of reinforcing the security of drivers in general, especially women, as well as prohibiting the hiring of those who have confronted, harassed, or disrespected a driver or passenger in any way. Just saying.
Uber rides will be more expensive in North Carolina. Do you know why?
