Significant racial disparities exist in wait times for ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft, particularly affecting Black passengers in Seattle and Boston, according to researchers.

Researchers from the University of Washington, MIT, and Stanford assessed nearly 1,500 ride requests and found that Black riders in Seattle experienced wait times that were 29 to 35 percent longer compared to their white counterparts. In contrast, while Lyft showed similar acceptance times for both races, Uber specifically had longer total wait times for Black riders.

The study also found that drivers were more likely to cancel rides for passengers with African American-sounding names in Boston, with cancellation rates being more than twice as high compared to those with white-sounding names. This was particularly pronounced for Black men, who faced cancellation rates that were up to three times higher than those for white males.

The study highlighted that while Uber drivers were more prone to exhibit discriminatory behaviour, Lyft's model - where drivers see passenger names and photos before accepting rides - could allow for discrimination at an earlier stage. However, Lyft drivers did not cancel rides disproportionately based on race.

The research also noted that female passengers sometimes experienced longer rides, which could be attributed to drivers engaging in inappropriate behaviour or seeking to profit from extended routes.

The authors of the study suggested several measures to mitigate these issues, including anonymising passenger names and implementing stricter penalties for drivers who cancel rides after acceptance. 

They emphasised that while the companies themselves may not directly engage in discriminatory practices, the decentralised nature of driver decisions leads to significant disparities in service.