Lyft Launches Feature to Match Women and Nonbinary Drivers and Riders

Lyft has introduced a new feature that aims to match women and nonbinary divers with more women and nonbinary riders.

The new Women+ Connect feature is designed to address the gender disparity among the ridesharing platform’s drivers and provide benefits for both drivers and riders, Lyft said in a Tuesday (Sept. 12) blog post.

For women and nonbinary drivers, this feature provides more control over their driving experience, allowing them to feel more confident, according to the post. It also reduces barriers to driving, providing more women with flexible earning opportunities. Lyft recognizes that many women drive to supplement their income or pursue other goals, such as education or starting a business.

For riders, the new feature offers greater choice, the post said. Women and nonbinary riders can opt-in to Women+ Connect, increasing their chances of being matched with women and nonbinary drivers. This not only fosters a sense of unity and understanding but also creates a more comfortable environment for both drivers and riders.

Lyft has developed Women+ Connect based on input from a diverse range of experts, including drivers and riders, per the post. The company has worked closely with women, men and nonbinary people to understand their needs and preferences, making the rideshare experience better for everyone.

The rollout of Women+ Connect will initially be available in select early-access cities in the United States, including Chicago, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco and San Jose, California, according to the blog post. Lyft aims to ensure a great experience for customers in each city before expanding the feature to more locations.

“Women+ Connect is all about providing more women and nonbinary people the opportunity to earn money on their terms and giving riders more choice,” Lyft CEO David Risher said. “We hope this gives millions of drivers and riders another reason to choose Lyft.”

PYMNTS Intelligence has found that consumers’ engagement in areas such as commuting, leisure travel and various forms of communications — including rideshare platforms like Lyft and Uber, and home-sharing site Airbnb — grew 27% in February compared to the same month in 2022.

That meant that 18 million more consumers were engaging in these daily digital behaviors than were doing so in February 2022, according to “The ConnectedEconomy Monthly Report: The Evolving Digital Daily Edition.”