Uber has announced that it will soon be launching a test option in its app that will allow female users to request female drivers.

Uber is set to unveil a new feature called “Women Preferences,” which will allow female riders to request female drivers. The feature is currently rolling out in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Detroit, with the goal of creating a safer environment for women.

Uber itself has faced criticism for years over safety issues and reports of sexual harassment. According to Uber’s own safety report, the number of sexual harassment incidents on its platform has dropped from 6,000 in 2017-2018 to about 3,000 in 2022.

Female drivers can also select the “Women Rider Preference” option to ride with more female passengers, but in both cases, they can also ride with people of the opposite sex if the passenger or driver wants.

The feature, which will launch in Canada in February 2023, is specifically for female drivers and non-binary people, allowing them to only accept rides from female passengers. The option was initially rolled out in Hamilton, Kitchener-Waterloo, and London, and is likely to expand to other cities.

Uber also said it was gathering feedback from users in other countries, such as Germany and France, before rolling out the feature in the US to ensure the system would work well given the small number of female drivers.

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