Current:Home > ScamsLyft's new feature allows women, nonbinary riders and drivers to match in app -WealthRoots Academy
Lyft's new feature allows women, nonbinary riders and drivers to match in app
View
Date:2025-04-18 11:26:59
For many women and people of different gender identities in the U.S., getting home safe is an almost daily consideration.
While ridesharing has proven itself a largely safe practice, a 2020 Alarms.org report found that 23% of women surveyed reported uncomfortable driver behavior to Uber, while 15% of women surveyed said they had reported a driver’s behavior to Lyft. The study also found that nearly 45% of female riders preferred a woman driver, while only 9% preferred a male.
In an attempt to recognize this preference, Lyft has announced a new feature called Women+ Connect. The new setting allows female and nonbinary riders to get matched with other female and nonbinary drivers more frequently, cultivating a more comfortable experience for both, according to the company.
This option has been long-requested, Lyft said in a press release, and is also intended to remove potential barriers for female drivers, who currently only make up 23% of the app's workforce despite half of Lyft riders identifying as women.
“Women+ Connect is all about providing more women and nonbinary people the opportunity to earn money on their terms and giving riders more choice,” said Lyft CEO David Risher in a statement. “We hope this gives millions of drivers and riders another reason to choose Lyft.”
Woman abducted by fake Uber driver:'Call 911': Rescued woman was abducted by man posing as Uber driver, authorities say
How Lyft's Women+ Connect works
The new program functions as a preference that can be turned on in the app's settings. Both drivers and riders with a gender marker on their profile indicating they identify as a woman or nonbinary individuals will see a prompt on the app when the feature comes to their city.
When opening the latest version of the app, riders will see a pop-up with a brief description of the feature and the choice to click "Count me in" or "No thanks." This option can be changed in your driving preferences tab at any time.
Drivers will similarly see the option appear in their driver app and can likewise toggle it on and off in their driving preferences menu. Turning the feature on prioritizes these kinds of matches the driver receives.
While the new feature prioritizes these matches, it is a preference setting and therefore does not guarantee your rider or driver will be a woman or nonbinary. If no one fitting that description is nearby, both drivers and riders will still be matched with men.
Uber bumps up age requirements:Age requirement for Uber drivers raised to 25 in this state. Can you guess which one?
Where can you use Women+ Connect
The feature will begin rolling out in select early-access cities in the U.S. on Wednesday.
Lyft plans to scale to other cities across the country after initial implementation and testing in the early access locations.
Initial markets include:
- Chicago
- Phoenix
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose.
veryGood! (9235)
Related
- Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
- The hidden faces of hunger in America
- Save 75% on Kate Spade Mother's Day Gifts: Handbags, Pajamas, Jewelry, Wallets, and More
- When will the wildfire smoke clear? Here's what meteorologists say.
- Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
- Woman says police didn't respond to 911 report that her husband was taken hostage until he had already been killed
- Today’s Climate: June 24, 2010
- SoCal Gas Knew Aliso Canyon Wells Were Deteriorating a Year Before Leak
- As Trump Enters Office, a Ripe Oil and Gas Target Appears: An Alabama National Forest
- SoCal Gas Knew Aliso Canyon Wells Were Deteriorating a Year Before Leak
Ranking
- Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
- With Order to Keep Gas in Leaking Facility, Regulators Anger Porter Ranch Residents
- How to time your flu shot for best protection
- Clarence Thomas delays filing Supreme Court disclosure amid scrutiny over gifts from GOP donor
- Warm inflation data keep S&P 500, Dow, Nasdaq under wraps before Fed meeting next week
- 'Comfort Closet' helps Liberians overcome an obstacle to delivering in a hospital
- Dead raccoon, racially hateful message left for Oregon mayor, Black city council member
- How Fatherhood Changed Everything for George Clooney
Recommendation
Behind on your annual reading goal? Books under 200 pages to read before 2024 ends
Medical debt ruined her credit. 'It's like you're being punished for being sick'
Jury convicts Oregon man who injured FBI bomb technician with shotgun booby trap
Mercaptans in Methane Leak Make Porter Ranch Residents Sick, and Fearful
Person accused of accosting Rep. Nancy Mace at Capitol pleads not guilty to assault charge
Today’s Climate: July 8, 2010
Hospitals have specialists on call for lots of diseases — but not addiction. Why not?
Climate Contrarians Try to Slip Their Views into U.S. Court’s Science Tutorial