Rideshare app Lyft has announced it will roll out a new feature, “Women+ Connect,” that will change the way vulnerable communities connect on the app. The company was the first to allow riders and drivers to choose their pronouns, and now they’re taking their commitment to make the app more accessible to the next level.
After consulting with drivers, the company will prioritize matches between women and nonbinary customers and drivers.
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Riders will be able to select “Count Me In,” to access the feature. If there are no women or nonbinary drivers available, riders will still be matched with men and male-presenting drivers.
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“Women+ Connect is all about providing more women and nonbinary people the opportunity to earn money on their terms and giving riders more choice,” Lyft CEO David Risher said in a statement. “We hope this gives millions of drivers and riders another reason to choose Lyft.”
“Lyft is rolling out an inclusive product at a time when so many companies are shying away from explicit inclusion of transgender and non-binary people,” Human Rights Campaign spokesperson Jay Brown said. “Women+ Connect was built with intentionality to make rideshare better for women and non-binary riders. When rideshare is better for these folks, it’s better for everyone, and we at HRC stand behind that.”
The new feature will roll out for early access in Chicago, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco, and San Jose, California.
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