Mumbai: Uber, a mobility app, has announced the launch of Uber Moto Women, a first-of-its-kind service in Bengaluru offering women-only bike rides. Designed to address women’s safety concerns and enhance mobility, Uber Moto Women connects female riders with female drivers, providing a safer and more comfortable commuting option. The service also empowers women by offering flexible earning opportunities for female drivers.
Uber Moto Women was developed based on feedback from women riders and drivers, offering a safe, affordable, and convenient commuting solution tailored to women who prefer to travel with female drivers.
Bike taxis have rapidly gained popularity in urban India, with over 280 million bike taxi rides completed across platforms in 2022, according to a KPMG report. Bengaluru is one of the largest markets for bike taxis, with over 1 million monthly rides recorded, highlighting the growing demand for such services. Furthermore, 65-70% of bike taxi trips focus on first- and last-mile connectivity, reinforcing their importance in complementing public transportation.
Commenting on the launch, 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.”
Safety at the Core of Uber Moto Women
Uber Moto Women leverages Uber’s advanced safety features to ensure a secure experience for both riders and drivers. Riders can share their trip details with up to five trusted contacts for real-time tracking, and the anonymization of phone numbers and drop-off addresses ensures privacy protection. Additionally, RideCheck, Uber’s proactive safety feature, monitors irregularities such as long stops, mid-way drops, or route deviations, offering support when needed. Women riders and drivers also have access to Uber’s 24×7 Safety Helpline, providing priority support whenever required.
Empowering Women and Creating Livelihood Opportunities
The bike taxi market has immense potential to generate livelihood opportunities in India. According to the KPMG report, bike taxis could create up to 5.4 million livelihood opportunities across the country. With female participation in the ride-hailing industry still relatively low, Uber Moto Women aims to encourage more women to join as drivers. The flexibility of short trips and working hours, coupled with easy navigation, makes this a viable option for women looking to earn on their terms. Female drivers also have the option to accept all rides, not just women-only rides, whenever they choose.
Ride-hailing services like Uber Moto Women can positively impact women’s participation in the workforce. A study by Oxford Economics found that greater access to ride-hailing could increase women’s workforce participation in India by over 6% by 2028. Furthermore, 75% of women choose ride-hailing services for safety reasons compared to other commuting options, with nearly 1 in 3 women in India using bike taxis at least once a month.
Uber Moto Women will be available across key locations in Bengaluru starting today, offering a safer and more flexible mobility option for women riders and drivers alike. Uber remains committed to continuously innovating mobility solutions that prioritize women’s safety and empower them economically.
