Study finds Uber, Lyft drivers show bias against blacks, women

The study by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that African Americans are more likely to face longer waits and cancellations, and women are more likely to get taken for unnecessarily long rides.

University of Washington, Stanford and MIT researchers hailed more than 1,500 trips with the two San Francisco ride-hailing companies, as well as Flywheel, a taxi-hailing app, in Seattle and Boston to see what impact race or perceived race or gender might have on wait times, cancellations and other factors with the rides.

The results of the study come at a time when ride-hailing companies and other pillars of the gig economy are squaring off with the rules and regulations of more established businesses.

“We found that (Uber) drivers are nearly three times as likely to cancel a ride on a male passenger upon seeing that he has a ‘black-sounding’ name,” researchers wrote in the conclusion of the study.

Uber and Lyft representatives noted the companies’ aims to serve low-income communities and people of color.

“We are extremely proud of the positive impact Lyft has on communities of color,” Lyft spokesman Adrian Durbin said in an email.

Because of Lyft, people living in underserved areas — which taxis have historically neglected — are now able to access convenient, affordable rides.