Uber Australia has launched a new in-app feature called Women Rider Preference that allows its female and non-binary drivers to change their passenger preferences. <a href="https://westernweekender.com.au/2022/05/uber-announces-woman-rider-preference-concept/#:~:text=Launched%20in%20response%20to%20feedback,women%20rider%20only%20trip%20requests.">Western Weekender</a> reports that the new feature was announced in response to feedback from the rideshare company's drivers. It is to provide female and non-binary drivers with choice over the rides they accept, and stability to drive during optimum earning hours. The rideshare company also confirmed that the preference is automatically available and accessible through the Uber Driver app. Watch the commercial for the feature below: [[youtubewidget||https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tm7YOyqaPK4]] Uber Australia's director of drive and marketplace Emma Foley explained that the purpose of the new feature is to help unlock more earning opportunities for women and non-binary drivers. “Women that earn with the Uber app do so because it enables them to be their own boss, earn flexibly around their lifestyle, and in some cases, support a side hustle,” Foley said. She added: “By providing greater peace of mind with Women Rider Preference, we hope to support women and non-binary driver-partners in amplifying their current earning hours while unlocking barriers preventing Australian women and non-binary individuals from accessing flexible earnings that support their ambitions.” Foley also expressed that Uber should reflect the diversity of the communities they operate in "including equitable gender representation among the driver-partner base." <img class="size-large wp-image-1263154259" src="https://img.vt.co/2022/05/PR73A2-1024x689.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="689" />[[imagecaption|| Credit: dennizn / Alamy]] The adjustment comes after the service commissioned a research survey and found out 70% of women would like to see more women as Uber drivers. According to <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/startupsmart/news/uber-women-rider-preference/">SmartCompany</a>, eight in ten women are considering new ways to earn money, 74% are open to starting a new side-hustle, and 75% are interested in exploring new opportunities. Australian news outlet <a href="https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/women-rider-preference-ubers-new-move-to-get-more-female-nonbinary-drivers/news-story/d437314d06660eec823a2de0def88d62">News.com.au</a> spoke to female driver Catia Fazio about her experience with passengers and the Women Rider Preference. “I’ve rarely had any bad experience with my passengers,” Fazio said. She explained that the Women Rider Preference feature is a great option for female and non-binary drivers that feel hesitant and would like some "added peace of mind" when driving at night. Fazio also said many of her passengers told her that they feel safer having a female driver, and voiced that other single mothers should join because the job is "flexible" and you "can work around your lifestyle". “I haven't turned back since I started driving and I highly recommend it to any woman that’s interested,” she added. <h6>Featured image credit: Marlon Trottmann / Alamy.</h6>

Female and non-binary Uber drivers can now turn down male passengers in Australia

Top Stories

News

Court to decide whether lottery winner won $1.2 million or $12

News

Man dug up his mom's buried body and kept her mummified corpse on his sofa for 13 years

News

Gypsy Rose believes she didn't deserve as many years in jail as she was sentenced to

News

Grandmother charged as baby granddaughter dies less than a year after brother died at same house

News

Gwyneth Paltrow ski case viewer uncovers bombshell group chat that attorneys failed to find

News

Gwyneth Paltrow's daughter says mom went to the spa to get a massage after ski crash