3 Incredibly Useful Accessibility and Inclusive Design Upgrades for Ride-Sharing Services Not Currently Available in Both Lyft or Uber

Photos courtesy of Unsplash

Uber recently announced the start of a new anti-racism initiative and creation of an inclusive design department, both a first of its kind for the ride-sharing giant. Obviously, this was great news for inclusive designers/researchers like me (as well as for what that meant for me personally as a mom of two young children, including one with a sensory disorder). Accessibility options and inclusive design upgrades are sorely missing from ride-sharing services as is, and I think it’s great that Uber is working actively to streamline inclusivity and accessibility for all.

I actually got a chance to interview for the inclusive design researcher position created for the new team @ Uber (you can read about that and some great insights I gained from the interview here), but missed the opportunity to present some of my accessibility ideas. If given the opportunity again to present to Uber or Lyft or any other ride-sharing service, I would strongly advocate for the following three options or upgrades that could be implemented in an improved accessible and inclusive design overhaul:

1. A “low noise/low light” option for individuals and children with sensory disorders, hyperactivity, and/or on the spectrum.
2. A “Female/Non-binary Driver” option for all riders identifying as female/non-binary/trans/intersex/genderqueer after 9pm. Safety is a huge issue for many women and persons at-risk for violence.
3. Some type of mobile upgrade/app to help provide navigation/instructions for both deaf/hard of hearing and blind riders. If you have the drivers pay for the app it can maximize their earning potential and drive up competitiveness amongst them without costing the company $$$ to implement for all drivers.

The truth of the matter is, there are no features on the current ride-sharing market that account for these types of accessibility and inclusivity features. All of the above-mentioned ideas could be designed in the app and be marketed as premiums that I’m sure (and with more research & testing) many customers would find worthy of paying extra for. Peace of mind, comfortability, accessibility, and equitable design should always remain at the forefront of reshaping our standards of user experience. Let’s continue fighting for inclusivity for all users.

— Britt Stewart (she/her) is a West Coast-based UX Writer/Content Designer who specializes in inclusive design. Check out some of her work at https://bstewartux.design.