Male Uber And Lyft Drivers Sue Over Women-Only Ride Options

Article here. Excerpt:

'"Uber’s assumption that male drivers—like plaintiffs who have garnered stellar ratings and extensive ride histories—cannot provide female passengers adequate ‘peace of mind’ and ‘comfort’ is rooted in stereotypical notions that the Unruh Act is designed to root out of society,” the attorneys argue in the Uber complaint. Uber and Lyft have not yet responded to requests for comments on the lawsuit.

John Banzhaf, a law professor at the George Washington University Law School and an expert on gender discrimination cases (though not involved in this lawsuit), believes the male drivers have a strong chance of winning the case. One additional reason, Banzhaf notes, is that women may feel safer with a male driver in some situations. For instance, a woman entering a dangerous neighborhood may feel more comfortable with a man behind the wheel. In that situation, Banzhaf explains, “I understand that some women will ask the driver to remain at the curb and watch over them until they walk into the building. They might feel more comfortable with a male driver.” Yet the apps only allow women to select other women drivers.'