Since 2018, Uber and Lyft have committed to disclosing transparency reports regarding incidents of sexual harassment, physical altercation, and — most gravely — fatality. As rideshare apps began to rival taxi cabs and public transportation, passengers called for greater accountability and oversight.
Fortunately for Lyft, transparency reporting was simply a first step toward a larger commitment to passenger safety. In addition to making “911” a button click away, the app also sends a check-in message to the rider if their driver starts veering off the scheduled course.
In February 2024, the rideshare app also launched the optional Women+ Connect feature, which enables women — cisgender, transgender, and non-binary — to select a gender preference for a prospective driver. Over the last two years, the feature has continued to roll out at regions across the country.
“Lyft is rolling out an inclusive product at a time when so many companies are shying away from explicit inclusion of transgender and nonbinary people,” Jay Brown, chief of staff for the Human Rights Campaign, said in a press statement. “When rideshare is better for these folks, it's better for everyone, and we at HRC stand behind that.”
Since the rollout, over 7 million riders have used the feature. Gaddy Rodas, a Lyft driver based in Florida, has enjoyed the opportunity to make female passengers feel safer, especially when she does midnight pickups.
“I know there’s going to be women calling a Lyft, and they will feel more comfortable if a female driver is there,” Rodas told Lyft. “They’re like, ‘That makes me feel so much better.’”
A version of this article originally appeared in the 2024 Pride Edition of the Goodnewspaper
Header image via Gustavo Fring / Pexels
