Uber and Lyft are facing new legal pressure as male drivers in California file class-action lawsuits challenging special ride options that allow riders to request women drivers only. These features were created in response to long-standing concerns about sexual harassment and assault during ride-hailing trips, especially affecting women passengers. However, the new lawsuits argue that while the intent may have been to improve safety, the result has been a system that denies equal access to work based on gender.
The two separate lawsuits claim that the companies’ women-preference ride programs have effectively reduced earning opportunities for male drivers and violate state anti-discrimination laws. Both lawsuits are seeking $4,000 in damages for each male driver in California who may have been affected.
Claims of Reduced Earnings and Reinforced Gender Stereotypes
The legal complaints state that the programs assign certain ride requests exclusively to female drivers, leaving male drivers excluded from a portion of the market. Lawyers representing the male plaintiffs argue that their clients are being denied rides they otherwise would have received, simply because they are men. The lawsuits further argue that the features perpetuate the stereotype that men pose a greater safety risk, a generalization that the plaintiffs say is discriminatory.
California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act prohibits businesses from discriminating based on sex, among other protected categories. The lawsuits claim Uber and Lyft’s ride-filtering programs directly conflict with that law. While the ride-hailing companies have faced increasing calls to prioritize rider and driver safety, the lawsuits contend that safety protections should not come at the expense of equal economic opportunity.
Uber and Lyft have not yet publicly commented on the lawsuits.
Potential Class Action Could Impact Hundreds of Thousands of Drivers
Each of the lawsuits currently has two named male drivers as plaintiffs, but the filings assert that the issue affects a far larger group. If the cases proceed as class action suits, hundreds of thousands of male drivers in California could be represented. With ride-hailing platforms heavily reliant on freelance drivers, any major policy change—either forced by court or undertaken voluntarily—could have widespread consequences.
The lawsuits surface at a time when both Uber and Lyft are working to stabilize trust among both passengers and drivers, after years of scrutiny over safety failures and inconsistent support systems.
Women Riders Say the Feature Is Necessary for Safety
Not everyone agrees with the argument made in the lawsuits. Many women who rely on ride-hailing services say the ability to choose a woman driver is both reassuring and necessary.
28-year-old rider Celeste Juarez explained that she prefers requesting women drivers after past uncomfortable experiences with male drivers, especially during late-night travel. She said the feature helps her feel protected from harassment or unwanted advances. Juarez said she uses the option regularly and described the lawsuits as “misguided,” emphasizing that, for her, the feature reduces fear and anxiety while traveling.
Development of Women-Only Ride Options
Uber introduced its women-to-women ride feature in several U.S. cities including San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Detroit in July. The company described the program as a response to repeated requests from women riders and drivers who wanted more control over their ride experience. Uber stated that the goal is to allow women to travel more comfortably and confidently.
The concept is not new for the company. Uber first launched a similar matching system in Saudi Arabia in 2019 after women were granted the legal right to drive.
Lyft introduced its Women+ Connect program in 2023. The feature allows women and nonbinary riders to be matched with women and nonbinary drivers. The program rolled out first in major cities such as Chicago, San Diego, San Francisco, Phoenix, and San Jose and received support from advocacy groups like the Human Rights Campaign and the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives.
Continuing Safety Concerns in Ride-Hailing Services
The push for women-preferred ride options emerged partly due to growing reports of sexual assault linked to ride-hailing rides. Uber’s most recent U.S. Safety Report documented 2,717 incidents of serious sexual misconduct or assault between 2021 and 2022, with drivers accused in the vast majority of cases. Women made up the overwhelming majority of survivors.
Lyft’s safety reporting found similar patterns, with more than 1,800 sexual assault incidents reported in 2019 alone.
Driver safety has also been a concern. Reports show that dozens of ride-hailing drivers were killed on duty between 2017 and 2022.
Earlier this year, a U.S. District Court judge in San Francisco suggested that the absence of a gender-matching tool could make ride-hailing companies vulnerable to liability claims in assault cases. This acknowledgment likely influenced the companies’ decisions to expand gender-based ride-matching programs.
