Women-Only Ride Options were introduced after years of harassment and assault concerns on rideshare platforms. Many people search questions like “Why do Uber and Lyft offer women-only rides?” or “Are women-only ride options legal?” The feature allows women, nonbinary riders, and transgender women to match with women drivers for increased comfort and safety. Uber and Lyft say the tool was built because women overwhelmingly requested more control over who they ride with.
A growing group of male drivers is now suing both companies, arguing that Women-Only Ride Options unfairly exclude them from earning opportunities. They claim the feature violates California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act, which prohibits sex-based discrimination. The lawsuits argue that although safety data shows women experience a disproportionate share of severe incidents, using gender as a filter treats all men as potential threats—even those with spotless driving records.
The legal debate centers on whether a platform can enable gender-based selection. Experts note that while individuals can prefer a specific driver, companies cannot facilitate choices rooted in protected characteristics. Legal scholars compare it to racial selection: a platform cannot offer “pick your driver’s race,” even if customers privately hold preferences. Plaintiffs argue the same principle applies to Women-Only Ride Options since they exclude male drivers from female-requested rides.
If courts find the feature discriminatory, rideshare apps may need new approaches—such as showing driver names or photos and letting riders choose manually. But this could create other forms of bias. Meanwhile, both Uber and Lyft continue expanding general safety tools like encrypted trip recordings, real-time route monitoring, and emergency alerts. The outcome of these lawsuits could redefine how safety features balance protection and equality across the industry.
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