Lyft's Women+ Connect program expands to Boston

Women and nonbinary people in Boston can now request Lyft rides with other women or nonbinary drivers.

Driving the news: Lyft is expanding its Women+ Connect feature nationwide today, the company announced.

• The feature is part of an effort to boost safety and get more women and nonbinary drivers on the road.

Why it matters: Lyft and Uber have come under fire in recent years over sexual assault and other incidents that targeted women.

Zoom in: Uber's most recent safety report shows nearly 1,000 sexual assault incidents in 2020, including 141 rapes. More than three-quarters of the victims were women.

• In 2022, a Hyde Park man was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting six people in his car. Police said five of the victims thought they were getting into an Uber.

Details: Lyft launched the Women+ Connect feature in September in San Francisco, San Jose, San Diego, Phoenix and Chicago.

• Lyft expanded the option to another 50 cities the next month.
• The company says 67% of eligible drivers have opted into the feature, and those using it keep it on 99% of the time.

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