Show HN: Person-to-person ridesharing, safe and reliable | Hacker News Reader

Show HN: Person-to-person ridesharing, safe and reliable

riderbee.com

15 pointswongjoh13 comments

I've wanted to build a mobile app for a few years that you can use to scan in the license plates of all the cars around you as you drive, gradually building up a list of drivers who go the same route at around the same time, and then present a way to connect those folks together.

I dream about it, anyway, deadlocked in traffic. (Well I did, before I got my Vespa, anyway..)

So it seems we're getting closer to the reality that one day I can just pick up my phone and broadcast a virtual thumb into the sky, for anyone in the area who goes the same way to pick me up ..

I had actually looked into license plates for another startup idea about a year ago, but the smartphone camera technology is not there yet in terms of getting a good take on license plates for moving vehicles. It had to do with regular optics mechanics that I frankly dont understand well...

But RiderBee is a good way to broadcast your need for a ride to those going in the same direction

They mention it's safe - that appears to be based solely on a user verifying someone's linkedin profile for themselves?

Also the flow of payments really needs a graphic.

For safety, there is (1) profile verification using LinkedIn; (2) Gender matching, usually requested by females; and (3) User reviews, similar to eBay, with thumbs up or down

Good one on the payment flow. Right now, it is using paypal, so it's basically a "Pay with Paypal" button that does the usual mobile paypal flow

Typo:

Take cars ofF the road, relieve congestion, and reduce carbon emissions.

>while riders cover their transport costs

Should be 'drivers'.

Thanks. Just sent over to teammate for fixing

Umm... http://ridejoy.com/ (YC S11)

[edit] I didn't intend on being a smart ass. I just don't see how they differentiate.

Oh, are companies not allowed to compete with one another now? Also, this startup seems more focused on mobile.

Ridejoy is for long distance, whereas RiderBee is for daily travel needs (commuting or going to the airport)

Also http://us.amovens.com/en, which does both long road-trip rides and daily commutes. Also has an iphone app.

How do you plan to make money with thise service?

Just like AirBnb and eBay, take a % of the money that flows from rider to driver

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