Lyft is expanding its Women Plus Connect feature to all US cities. She matches women and non-binary people with the same passengers as drivers. The ride-sharing service launched the initiative in five cities last fall to improve safety and attract more women and non-binary users. More than 2.4 million users have activated Women Plus Connect since its launch.
Drivers are not required to participate in Women Plus Connect if they don't want to, and if there are no passengers nearby who match the profile, the app will match a male passenger, reports The Verge.
Women and non-binary rideshare drivers in the US often face sexual harassment from passengers. These potentially hazardous working conditions have likely led to ride sharing becoming a less popular option for women and non-binary drivers. Although Lyft's survey indicates that many women prefer female drivers, only a quarter (23%) of Lyft's driver workforce identifies as women or non-binary drivers. Male drivers are more likely to work later and longer because they are not as concerned about safety as women, leading to a 7% earnings gap between men and women, a 2020 Stanford University study of Uber drivers found.< /p>
Women Plus Connect will be available to all Lyft users and drivers who select the Women or Non-Binary Gender option. Women and non-binary drivers will be asked if they would like to register with Women Plus Connect. Lyft will determine who is eligible based on the gender marker on the driver's license, but drivers can also update their gender settings in the app.