Bengaluru: Uber has launched Uber Moto Women, a women-only bike ride service in Bengaluru, marking its first-ever global initiative of this kind.
This service is designed to connect female riders exclusively with female drivers, addressing concerns related to women’s safety and mobility.
It also aims to empower women drivers by offering them flexible earning opportunities.
The initiative, which stems from feedback provided by women riders and drivers, offers a secure, affordable, and convenient commute option for those who prefer female drivers or riders.
Uber plans to expand this service to other major cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, and Hyderabad, following its rollout in Bengaluru.
Commenting on the launch of Uber Moto Women, Abhishek Padhye, Head of Regional Business Operations, Uber India & South Asia, said, “At Uber, we’re committed to creating mobility solutions that cater to the diverse needs of our communities.
"With Uber Moto Women, we’re not just offering a safer and more convenient ride option for women, but also empowering female drivers with the opportunity to earn flexibly in one of India’s fastest-growing mobility segments. Bengaluru has always been a pioneer in embracing innovation, and we’re proud to launch this service here to set a new benchmark for inclusive urban mobility.”
Uber Moto Women harnesses the company’s advanced technology-led safety features to provide a safer ride each time, the statement said.
Riders can share their trip details with up to five trusted contacts for real-time tracking; while anonymization of phone numbers and drop-off addresses protects user privacy.
RideCheck, Uber’s proactive safety feature, monitors irregularities like long stops, mid-way drops or route deviations and offers support when needed.
Women riders and drivers also have access to Uber’s 24x7 Safety Helpline, which provides priority support for women when they need it.
As per the KPMG report, bike taxis have the potential to generate up to 5.4 million livelihood opportunities in India.
With female participation in the ride-hailing space in India continuing to be low, Uber Moto Women can encourage more women to drive.
Flexible working hours, short distance trips, and easy navigation, will make it easier for more women drivers to drive on the platform.
Offering complete flexibility, Uber Moto Women drivers also have the choice to turn off the option to accept female only riders, and accept all rides when they want.
Similarly, ride-hailing options like Moto Women can positively impact women’s workforce participation.
As per a study by Oxford Economics, titled “Ride Hailing: A platform for women’s economic participation in India,” women’s workforce participation could increase by over 6% by 2028 with greater access to ride-hailing options.
The report also found that 75% of women choose ride-hailing for safer commuting compared to alternatives, while almost 1 in 3 women in India use bike taxis at least once a month.
Uber Moto Women will be available across all major parts of Bengaluru starting today.
Uber continues to stay committed to mobility innovation and its dedication to creating meaningful solutions for women’s safety and economic empowerment.
