NASHVILLE — Uber launched a new safety feature in Nashville on Monday that lets female riders and female drivers match only with each other. The option, called “Women Preferences,” is designed to give women more comfort and control during rides, especially late at night in busy areas like Broadway.

The update comes after several reports of sexual assault involving rideshare users in Nashville. A Case for Women, a national advocacy group that connects survivors with legal help, says it has assisted nearly 3,000 women in filing lawsuits against rideshare companies, including many in Tennessee.

Susan Knape, the CEO of the group, said the feature is helpful but questioned why it took so long. She pointed out that Uber offered a similar option in Saudi Arabia back in 2019 and saw strong results. She also said Uber should add stronger background checks, respond quicker to reports, and consider requiring cameras inside vehicles.

Tourists on Broadway were among the first to test the feature. Olivia Klos from Poland said this type of option is common in her country and she was surprised it had not been available here sooner. Another visitor, Gabby Chiavacci from Pennsylvania, said the feature is helpful but does not remove every concern. She noted that women still face risks and many rely on habits like sharing trip details, double checking plates, and staying alert.

Uber issued a statement saying the goal is to give women more choice and confidence while using the service. Camiel Irving, Uber’s Vice President of Operations for the United States and Canada, said the company is excited to expand the feature to more cities.

Key points about Women Preferences:

It is available to adult female riders and women drivers in Nashville Teen riders with teen accounts can also request women drivers Parents of teens can enable the setting for them Women must turn the feature on inside the Uber app

Advocates say the update is a step forward, but more improvements are still needed. Knape added that stronger safety rules in the past could have prevented many assaults.