Two competing ride-hailing platforms, Uber and Bolt, announced on Thursday the introduction of services allowing women in Paris to request rides with female drivers, aimed at enhancing “safety” for female customers.
The “Uber by Women” option, available from Thursday, is free of extra charge but may involve longer wait times. Uber had previously rolled out similar services in other European countries in response to multiple sexual assault and harassment allegations involving their drivers.
Uber emphasized that the initiative is designed to offer “greater safety” to women users, with about 1,500 female drivers already operating in Paris. The app includes a reminder that this option is for women only, and male users attempting to access it may have their requests canceled by drivers.
The average wait time for the women-only service is approximately 15 minutes, compared to the 4 minutes typically required for a standard ride. Additionally, Uber hopes the initiative will encourage more women to become drivers by offering them significant reductions on ride fees.
Uber’s France director, Laureline Serieys, described the service as an “excellent way to attract more women into the ride-hailing profession.”
In a similar move, European competitor Bolt introduced its own women-only ride service called “Women by Women,” which is set to launch by the end of 2024.
Julien Mouyeket, Bolt’s director in France, stated that the new service aims to ensure the safety of women using ride-hailing services, while also protecting female drivers.
Peoplesmind
