Real-time Ridesharing

What is it?

Avego’s free iPhone app enables private cars to become part of the public transport network by providing a marketplace for drivers to offer their unused seats to other people in real time.

A driver running the iPhone app is matched in real time with anyone searching for a ride along the same route. The system combines this GPS-enabled real-time ride-matching with fully automated payment transaction management, real-time passenger information, safety features, and commute reporting to enable more flexible and verifiable carpooling.

In this way, drivers are provided with a convenient method of saving money on their commute and helping the environment, without having to stick to rigid carpooling schedules, while riders are provided with a convenient and affordable alternative to public transport.

Avego Driver is now also available for Windows Phone 7.

How it works

Avego’s iPhone app essentially enables you to run your car like a bus. The routes you drive are made available to other users, who can search for rides between any stops along those routes.

The iPhone app is very easy to use and provides audio notifications to prompt you about upcoming stops and riders – so you never need to physically interact with the app while you drive.

Here’s how it works in seven simple steps:

• A driver turns on the iPhone app and selects the route they are going to drive.
• Someone searches for a ride along the same route, by using the iPhone app or their online user account.
• Avego automatically matches the driver with the rider, calculates the maximum fee to be charged to the rider, and offers the ride to both users.
• When both users have confirmed the ride, they are directed to a convenient pick-up location near the rider. The rider is provided with reliable real-time passenger information (RTPI) – so they know exactly when the car is due to arrive.
• When approaching the pick-up point, the driver receives an audio prompt informing him when to pull over. The driver then authenticates the rider by entering their auto-generated PIN into the iPhone app and drives the rider to their destination.
• During the journey, the rider can sit back, relax and monitor the progress of the journey, accessing reliable real-time arrival information and a map view of their progress
• At the end of the journey, Avego automatically charges the passenger a fair and predetermined price for the journey, based on a per-mile default rate, and manages the payment to the driver. Both users rate each other between 1 and 5 stars. If either user rates the other with 1 star, they will never be matched together again.

Getting Started with Ghost Riders

New users can quickly learn how the system works by picking up and dropping off simulated (“ghost”) riders. Ghost riders act just like real people – the only difference is that they don’t pay with real money.

By using the iPhone app to pick up ghost riders along your route, you can also see the potential benefits of offering your seats to real people.

Learn more about getting started with ghost riders here.

Your Free Online Account

Every user has a personalized online user account, which provides easy access to detailed reports about journeys driven, income generated from driving riders, money spent on booking rides. If you haven’t already registered, you can register for free here.

Drivers can also use the web interface to manage the routes they regularly drive by using an intuitive graphical interface. New routes can be created in a map view, or the stops associated with each existing route can be amended.

Riders can use the web interface to top up their credit balance, book rides and manage their rider preferences, such as how far they are willing to walk to a pick-up stop.

Safety Features

Many safety features are included:

• A self-policing rating mechanism, whereby drivers and riders rate each other at the end of a journey
• When a user is matched with another user, they are provided with their details, including their photo and user rating.
• Drivers must authenticate riders by entering their auto-generated PIN at the start of each journey.
• Users can choose to travel only with people they already know and trust.
• Audio notifications, so drivers don’t need to interact with the app while driving.
• Every user is registered with the system and journey progress is logged using GPS.

Of course, as a driver, you should only pick up riders that you feel comfortable picking up. Likewise, as a rider, you should never enter any vehicle if you feel uncomfortable doing so.

Join Avego today

Anyone can join the Avego community right now, by registering for free here. 

To make the empty seats in your car available to others in the Avego community, you must first download Avego Driver (iPhone / Windows Phone 7). 

To discover rides available in your area, check out the new Avego Ride Board on your smartphone.

If you are the first Avego user in your area, please let us know and we can send you some tips to help you grow the community in your area.