Lyft's new gender-based safety feature now available in Philly, nationally

• Between 2017 and 2019, 4,158 sexual assaults and 10 fatal physical assaults of Lyft passengers and drivers were recorded, Axios' Kia Kokalitcheva reported.

What's happening: Lyft's Women+Connect is a new option in the app that prioritizes matches between women and nonbinary drivers and riders, the rideshare company announced this morning.

• It launched in five U.S. cities in September, then expanded to 55 and is now fully rolling out, a company spokesperson tells Axios.

How it works: Women and nonbinary drivers can turn on a preference in the app to help match them with nearby women and nonbinary riders.

• Riders and drivers can self-identify and update their genders in their profiles.
• The preference is prioritized but not guaranteed.

By the numbers: Women account for about half the riders on Lyft but only 23% of drivers, per Lyft.

• So far, 67% of drivers eligible to use Women+Connect are doing so, per Lyft.
• More than 7 million rides have been completed using the feature.

What's next: Women and nonbinary riders will automatically be enrolled in the program but can turn off the feature in the app.