Mobility app Uber has rolled out “Uber Moto Women”, a service it claims is the first of its kind in Bengaluru, offering women-only bike rides.

This two-wheeler ride service connects female passengers with female drivers and is designed to prioritise women’s safety and mobility needs. 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 percent bike taxi trips cater to first and last-mile connectivity.

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Abhishek Padhye, Head of Regional Business Operations, Uber India & South Asia, stated, “We are committed to creating mobility solutions that cater to the diverse needs of our communities. With Uber Moto Women, we are not just offering a safer, more convenient ride option for women, but 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 are proud to launch this service here to set a new benchmark for inclusive urban mobility.”

According to Uber, Uber Moto Women uses the company’s technology-led safety features to provide a safer ride each time. Riders can share their trip details with up to five contacts for real-time tracking, while anonymisation of phone numbers and drop-off addresses protects user privacy.

RideCheck, Uber’s 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 24×7 Safety Helpline, which provides priority support for women when they need it.

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As per the KPMG report, bike taxis have the potential to generate up to 5.4 million livelihood opportunities in India.

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.