Lyft is adding a Women+ Connect option, which aims to match female and nonbinary drivers with more women and nonbinary riders.
Once launched, women and nonbinary riders will see the option to “Count me in” via the Lyft app, which will boost the chance of matching them with women and nonbinary drivers. Drivers will see the same option.
The feature will initially roll out in early access US cities including Chicago, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco, and San Jose. If there are no matching riders nearby, drivers can still be paired with men. According to Lyft, women represent almost half of Lyft riders but only 23% of its drivers.
Lyft doesn't mention it, but the subtext here is that it's often safer for women and nonbinary riders and drivers to be paired with other women and nonbinary people than men. A 2021 community safety report from Lyft reported an increase in sexual assault between 2017 and 2019, with over 1,800 incidents reported in 2019.
(Credit: Lyft)Last year, the company faced more than a dozen lawsuits from those who said they were sexually or physically assaulted while using Lyft.
A similar safety report from rival Uber released last year noted a 38% decline in sexual assaults between its first report (2017-2018) and the one that covered 2019-2020. Still, there were 3,824 sexual assault reports in 2019-2020.
