NEED TO KNOW
- Uber’s new “Women+ Connect” feature allows female drivers and riders to avoid men altogether — a setting previously known as “taking the bus.”
- Early beta tests revealed most rides turn into impromptu trauma-dumping therapy sessions ending in emotional high-fives.
- Male riders still available in UberPool if you enjoy unsolicited crypto advice and wet sneezes.
Uber is rolling out its “Women+ Connect” feature, enabling female drivers and riders to pair exclusively with one another in select cities. Originally intended for safety and comfort, the move has inadvertently created a roving, app-enabled fleet of Honda Civics and Nissan Rogues now functioning as therapy pods, brunch planning rooms, and mobile feminist book clubs.
“We just wanted to avoid creepy men named Chad who breathe heavy and say ‘nice car,’” said Dana Levenson, a test driver in Los Angeles. “But now I’ve got a regular passenger and we’re co-authoring a memoir about our moms.”
Uber insists the setting is optional, unlike the lifetime of gendered disappointment most women endure. Meanwhile, male users have demanded a “Men Only” option, but Uber clarified that’s already called “getting picked up by your podcast cohost who vapes indoors.”
While critics argue it divides users, Uber’s CEO said the feature empowers women with choice — specifically the choice to not hear about a stranger’s Joe Rogan impressions before 9 AM.
If successful, Uber may trial a “Silence Mode for Dads” and “Don’t Touch My Hair, Carol” setting for Black women.
Quote of the moment
Sometimes the safest ride is just one where no one says ‘you’re pretty for a Lyft driver’
Chelsi Marino
