Uber has introduced a new service called “Uber by Women” in France, allowing female customers to request rides with women drivers at no additional cost. The initiative aims to enhance the sense of security for female passengers and encourage more women to join the driving profession. The service is currently available in Paris and can be accessed directly through the Uber app.
Uber offers female clients the option to travel with a female driver, providing them “more peace of mind during their trips”, as reported by Elle France. This feature is accessible with just one click, but it will not be displayed if no female driver is available within an acceptable time frame, as noted by France Info. Rides performed by women are reserved for female passengers, with a reminder of this rule displayed in the application.
The launch of “Uber by Women” comes in response to ongoing concerns about safety among female passengers and drivers. France Info notes that safety remains a central concern, especially in light of recent incidents and assaults, with several female clients of ride-hailing services having been victims of harassment or sexual violence. However, Uber denies any link between the launch of this option and these incidents. “This is not a reaction to recent incidents, but the continuation of long-term work on safety and the fight against sexist violence,” stated Laureline Serieys, General Director of Uber France, in Le Parisien.
To encourage female drivers to participate in the “Uber by Women” service, Uber is offering a temporary reduction in its commission fees. Female drivers using this option will benefit from a commission reduction from 25% to 15% on rides completed through this feature. This measure is intended to remain in effect until February next year, as mentioned by Elle France. Uber describes this as a “substantial reduction” and specifies that it “very rarely offers promotions on driver commissions,” reported by gearrice.com.
Uber hopes that this initiative will attract more women to the driving profession. “We are taking a concrete step to offer more choice to women and provide those who feel the need with more peace of mind during their journeys,” stated Laureline Serieys, General Manager of Uber France, according to gearrice.com. She emphasized that this initiative aims to attract more female drivers to the ride-hailing profession. In a press release, Serieys added, “‘Uber by Women’ is an excellent way to increase the attractiveness of the VTC profession to women who would not see themselves in this profession,” and highlighted that Uber hopes to attract more female drivers by offering “a significant reduction” on the fees charged for each ride, as reported by 20 Minutes.
Currently, women represent a small minority among Uber drivers in Île-de-France. There are only 1,500 female partner drivers among the 45,000 registered Uber drivers in the region, accounting for around 3%, according to Elle France. This shortage of female drivers may impact the effectiveness of the “Uber by Women” feature in the short term. Dependence on a small number of available female drivers may limit the impact of the service.
Customers using “Uber by Women” may experience longer wait times due to the limited number of female drivers. The average wait time for this option is 15 minutes, compared to four minutes for standard UberX rides, which raises questions about whether the initiative is a significant advancement for women or merely a marketing tool. Despite this, some female drivers view “Uber by Women” as a real opportunity. Shirley Dauger, a partner driver and former nurse, believes the option is an opportunity to better meet the expectations of female customers. “It’s certain, I’m going to do more rides,” she stated to Le Parisien.
Female passengers have also expressed appreciation for the new service. “It allows you to feel safer,” assures Inès El Amrani, an Uber customer, according to 20 Minutes. Many female passengers share their tips for feeling safe, such as being dropped off a few meters from their home, wearing headphones, or sitting behind the driver to avoid eye contact. These anecdotes highlight that for many women, safety is a daily concern.
Uber has implemented measures to ensure the “Uber by Women” option is used appropriately. If a male customer attempts to misuse the option intended for women, female drivers can refuse to let him enter the vehicle. “In this case, it will not impact the cancellation rate, and there will be no fees,” said Rym Saker, Director of Communications at Uber France, as reported by 20 Minutes. The Uber app currently cannot verify if the customer is indeed a woman.
Uber’s approach is part of a broader movement of services dedicated to women. Certain cities in France, like Metz, have established parking spaces reserved for women in the city center. Additionally, the SNCF, the French national railway company, offers reserved spaces on its night trains for women, as reported by the same source.
Despite these efforts, user fears have not been completely alleviated, especially for nighttime rides. While “Uber by Women” seems to meet a real need, it also raises questions about the necessity of such an option. The longer wait times and limited availability of female drivers may limit the service’s effectiveness in providing safety and reassurance to female passengers. “Dependence on a small number of available female drivers may limit the impact of the ‘Uber by Women’ feature in the short term,” reported Elle France.
“Uber by Women” in Paris represents an effort to address safety concerns among female passengers and to encourage more women to become drivers. While the initiative has been welcomed by some as a positive step, challenges such as longer wait times and the low number of female drivers may impact its overall effectiveness. The success of the service will depend on Uber’s ability to attract more female drivers and to ensure that the option provides the intended sense of security for female customers.
