Lyft to Launch New Feature Matching Woman and Nonbinary Riders with a Driver of the Same Gender
The new feature is expected to roll out in select cities soon, including Chicago and San Diego
Getty
Lyft to Launch Feature Matching Woman, Non-Binary Riders with Same Gender DriverLyft is getting ready to launch a new feature aimed specifically at women and nonbinary riders.
Earlier this week, the ride-sharing company announced in a press release that it will roll out a new feature called Women+ Connect, which will give women and nonbinary riders the ability to request drivers of the same gender.
While users will not be able to request these drivers exclusively, Lyft said the Women+ Connect feature will allow riders to receive a prompt in the app to select “Count me in" — which will increase their chances of matching with women and nonbinary drivers. (Women and nonbinary drivers will also see the same opt-in.)
If no women or nonbinary riders or drivers are nearby, however, users with the preference on can still be matched with men. "Women+ Connect is a preference feature, not a guarantee," according to Lyft.
These users, the company added, can update their app preferences at any time to opt out of the feature.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Getty
Lyft to Launch Feature Matching Woman, Non-Binary Riders with Same Gender DriverRelated: Chance the Rapper Surprises Riders as He Poses as a Lyft Driver for His SocialWorks Charity
The new feature, Lyft said, is expected to roll out in select early-access cities across the United States in the near future, including Chicago, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco and San Jose.
"We’ll be ensuring customers in each city have a great experience as we look to roll out to more cities very soon," the company added in the release.
In a statement, Lyft CEO David Risher applauded the ride-sharing app's move to create safer and more comfortable rides for all guests.
"Women+ Connect is all about providing more women and nonbinary people the opportunity to earn money on their terms and giving riders more choice," he said,
Added Risher: “We hope this gives millions of drivers and riders another reason to choose Lyft.”
For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!
Read the original article on People.
