To address rising safety concerns, Uber has launched the “Uber by Women” option in France, allowing female passengers to request female drivers.
Available Thursday, this feature is already in use in Poland and parts of Latin America. “It’s not a question of telling them that this is the only way to travel with complete peace of mind, but just of giving them a choice,” said Uber France’s Laureline Serieys.
With only 3% of Uber drivers in France being women, users may face longer wait times of up to 15–20 minutes, compared to the usual 3–4 minutes. To boost its female driver base, Uber is offering a reduced commission fee in Paris and Île-de-France, dropping from 25% to 15% until February 2025.
Uber stresses that the initiative is part of a larger effort to tackle safety and fight sexual violence. Serieys noted, “This is very long-term work on security issues.” The launch comes amid increased sexual assaults against women in France, many attributed to foreign nationals.
