For many women, a rideshare app is a safe choice for getting home after a night out. To offer riders more choice and peace of mind using their app, Lyft has announced Women + Connect. This new feature will prioritize matching women and nonbinary riders with women and nonbinary drivers. It’s a feature that users have long requested, and it’s finally available in select cities.
A recent survey shows that nearly half of Lyft riders are women, while women make up less than a quarter of Lyft drivers. The new Women + Connect aims to put riders at ease while also encouraging more women and nonbinary people to drive for the company, offering more control over their driving experience.
“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. “We hope this gives millions of drivers and riders another reason to choose Lyft.”
Starting September 13, 2023, Women + Connect will be available in San Francisco, Chicago, Phoenix, San Diego, and San Jose. More cities will be added soon. If you’re located in one of these cities, the feature will launch as a preference, and you can select whether you prefer a female or nonbinary-identifying driver. If you opt in, the app will prioritize matches based on your preference. A match is not guaranteed, as it’s based on several factors, including the number of available drivers and ride requests. Still, Lyft hopes that the new option will encourage more women and nonbinary drivers to join Lyft.
The feature was developed with input from various experts, garnering praise for offering peace of mind and fostering confidence among women and nonbinary riders and drivers.
“Lyft is rolling out an inclusive product at a time when so many companies are shying away from explicit inclusion of transgender and non-binary people. Women+ Connect was built intentionally to improve rideshare for women and non-binary riders. When rideshare is better for these folks, it’s better for everyone, and we at HRC stand behind that.” Jay Brown, Human Rights Campaign.