Has Ride-Hailing Tech Reduced Discrimination Against Black Riders?

Ride-hailing apps like Uber and Lyft have helped to mitigate racial discrimination against Black passengers—at least when it comes to wait times, a new study from Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) has revealed.

Researchers found that the technology’s ability to rapidly rematch canceled rides plays a key role in lessening the impact of discriminatory behavior.

A Complex Issue with Tech-Led Solutions

Historically, Black passengers hailing taxis faced rampant discrimination, often enduring longer wait times or outright rejections. 

An academic study had revealed a troubling pattern of discrimination by Uber and Lyft drivers against passengers with African American-sounding names.

The study, published by the National Bureau of Economic Research, found that Black passengers in Seattle waited 35% longer than white passengers for a ride. In Boston, ride cancellations for Black passengers occurred at twice the rate of white passengers.

However, now ride-hailing apps have seemingly addressed this. CMU researchers found that despite some drivers still canceling more frequently on Black passengers, the technology minimizes the effect. 

The system’s rapid rematching reduces these disparities, resulting in minimal differences in average wait times between Black and white riders. 

A breakdown of the study

The study focused on Chicago, one of the most residentially segregated cities in the US, where Black riders experience longer wait times due to their geographic location. 

The study simulated ride-hailing trips before and after the pandemic and estimated that at least 3% of drivers actively discriminate based on race. 

While this results in higher cancellation rates for Black passengers, the ride-hailing apps’ rematch feature prevents this from leading to longer waits. 

Professor Jeremy Michalek, one of the study’s authors, remarked in a press release, “The technology is mitigating a social issue, which is pretty rare.”

The Persistent Role of Systemic Inequality

Yet, while the ride-hailing platforms appear to mitigate direct discrimination, larger systemic issues persist. 

Many Black residents live in South Chicago, far from driver-concentrated downtown areas, meaning that even without direct racial bias, wait times remain unequal. 

As Michalek notes, “In a society with entrenched disparities, even a service without direct racial bias can still produce gaps in service quality.”

This disparity highlights the role of systemic segregation in service delivery, beyond individual discrimination.