Uber, India’s leading mobility app, today rolled out Uber Moto Women, a first-of-its-kind service in Bengaluru, offering women-only bike rides. This on-demand two-wheeler ride service connects female riders with female drivers and is designed to address women’s safety and mobility needs while empowering female drivers with flexible earning opportunities. Developed based on feedback from women riders and drivers, Uber Moto Women offers a safe, affordable and convenient commute option for women who would prefer to ride with female drivers or riders for their trips.
Bike taxis have rapidly emerged as one of the fastest-growing transport options in urban India. According to a KPMG report titled “Unlocking the Potential of Bike Taxis in India,” over 280 million bike taxi rides were completed across platforms in 2022. Bengaluru alone recorded over 1 million rides monthly, making it one of the country’s largest bike taxi markets. Additionally, 65-70% of bike taxi trips cater to first- and last-mile connectivity, highlighting their importance in complementing public transport.
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”
Safer rides with Uber Moto Women
Uber Moto Women harnesses the company’s advanced technology-led safety features to provide a safer ride each time. Riders can share their trip details with up to 5 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.
Generating livelihood opportunities
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.
