Female Riders Can Now Request Female Uber Drivers
Uber users in Mérida can now request a ride with a female driver, as the company’s Uber Mujeres feature begins rolling out across the city this week.
The tool lets riders choose a female driver for an immediate trip, book one in advance through Uber Reserve, or set a standing preference so the app tries to match them with a female driver whenever one is available. It operates from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Cecilia Román, Uber Mexico’s communications manager, said the feature responds to years of requests from riders who wanted an option similar to Ellas, which has let female drivers choose to accept only female passengers since late 2020.
“Riders — including in every survey we’ve run in Mérida — tell us: ‘I want that option too, but for me,'” Román said.
Why They Did It
The company said it decided to add the feature after noticing that riders are split roughly evenly between men and women, while women remain a minority among drivers on the platform. That imbalance means wait times could run longer for riders who choose the option; if no female driver is nearby or the wait is too long, the app will ask whether the rider wants to keep waiting or accept a ride with a male driver instead.
The advance-booking option works through Uber Reserve, letting riders schedule a trip as little as 30 minutes ahead and select Uber Mujeres for it. Riders can also turn on a standing preference in the app’s settings, though Uber cautioned that doing so doesn’t guarantee every trip will be driven by a woman.
Román said the response has been positive in cities where the feature already operates, and that Uber hopes it will encourage more women to start driving for the platform — or to drive in more neighborhoods and at more hours than they currently do.
“It can create that virtuous circle,” she said, noting that more female drivers would also shorten wait times for riders who want the option.
Mérida is one of 20 Mexican cities receiving the feature as part of a broader rollout; it first launched in five cities — Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara, Los Cabos and Cancún — earlier this year. Information and access are reaching Mérida users gradually this week, with Uber expecting all registered riders in the city to have the option by Friday. The first time a rider uses Uber Mujeres, the app will ask them to confirm their gender.
The feature comes at no extra cost; fares stay on Uber’s standard time-and-distance pricing.
Uber Mujeres marks the latest step in the company’s uneven history in Yucatán, where it first arrived in 2016 amid taxi-union protests and a brief ban before settling into an uneasy coexistence with traditional taxis.
Fast Facts
- What: Uber Mujeres, a feature letting riders request female drivers
- When: Rolling out in Mérida this week; full access expected by Friday, Sept. 11
- Hours: 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- How: Immediate request, advance booking via Uber Reserve (up to 30 minutes ahead), or a standing app preference
- Cost: No extra charge — standard fares apply
- Reach: Now available in 20 Mexican cities
With reporting from La Jornada Maya
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