Project Overview

Relay Rideshare is an innovative transportation solution designed specifically for families with busy schedules. The app enables parents within the same neighborhood or community to coordinate rides for their children who are attending the same schools, sports practices, music lessons, or other extracurricular activities. By allowing parents to create trusted connections with other parents, the platform reduces the transportation burden on individual families while ensuring children always have a safe, vetted ride. Parents can track rides in real-time, receive AI powered ride notifications when their children are picked up and dropped off, and manage recurring transportation needs through an intuitive scheduling system. Relay not only saves time and reduces traffic congestion but also fosters stronger community connections and provides peace of mind through its comprehensive safety features.

Key Features

Secure parent verification with multi-step identity confirmation

Smart matching algorithm that suggests potential ride shares based on routes and schedules

Real-time GPS tracking with detailed ETA updates

AI powered notifications for ride confirmations and changes

In-app messaging and notifications for seamless communication

Flexible scheduling for one-time, recurring, and exception handling

Digital check-in/check-out system for ride confirmation

Driver safety verification including background checks and driving record review

Emergency contact system with direct connection to ride drivers

Challenges Solved

Building a trustworthy platform that addresses parents' safety concerns while maintaining user privacy

Creating dynamic scheduling that adapts to changing family needs and last-minute adjustments

Designing an intuitive interface that simplifies complex coordination tasks

Technologies Used

React Native

Powers our cross-platform mobile experience, allowing one codebase to deliver native performance on both iOS and Android devices.

Expo

Accelerates development with pre-built native components and simplified access to device features like GPS, notifications, and camera functionality.

GraphQL

Handles complex data queries efficiently, enabling the app to request precisely the information needed for each screen and reducing data usage.

Firebase

Provides secure authentication, real-time database synchronization, cloud messaging for notifications, and scalable backend infrastructure.

Google Maps API

Enables accurate route planning, ETA calculations, and real-time location tracking throughout the ridesharing process.

Development Process

User Research & Problem Definition

Conducted extensive interviews with over 50 parents to understand transportation pain points, safety concerns, and scheduling challenges facing busy families.

Concept Development & Validation

Created multiple solution concepts and validated them through parent focus groups, refining the core proposition based on feedback about trust, safety, and usability.

UX/UI Design & Prototyping

Designed a streamlined user experience focused on quick scheduling, clear communication, and peace of mind through visibility. Tested interactive prototypes with potential users to optimize workflows.

Development & Feature Implementation

Built the app iteratively using React Native and Expo, prioritizing core safety features, scheduling capabilities, and real-time tracking functionality.

Beta Testing & Community Feedback

Launched a closed beta with selected family networks, gathering real-world usage data and refining features based on actual transportation coordination scenarios.

Relay Rideshare

Project Overview

Key Features

Challenges Solved

Project Demo

Relay Showcase Day

Full App Demo