Lyft Introduces Gender-Matching Feature for Safer Rides

Lyft has introduced a new feature called Women+ Connect, which allows female and nonbinary riders and drivers to prioritize matching with each other on the ride-hailing app. The goal is to improve safety and encourage more women to drive with Lyft, as currently only 23% of its drivers are women. The feature will be initially available in five cities with a higher proportion of female drivers, and Lyft plans to expand it based on user feedback. This move follows concerns about the safety of ride-hailing services and reports of sexual assaults. Uber has a similar feature in other countries but not in the United States.