Ride Sharing System - How It Works

Overview

This is a ride-sharing platform that connects Riders (passengers) with Drivers who offer rides along specific routes.

---

Who Uses the System?

The system has three types of users:

1. Riders (Passengers)

• People who need transportation
• Can search for available rides
• Can book seats on rides
• Can view their booking history

2. Drivers

• People who offer transportation services
• Must have a valid driver's license
• Can create rides on specific routes
• Can manage their rides and see who has booked

3. Admins

• System administrators
• Manage users and monitor the platform
• Handle disputes and issues

---

How the System Works

Step 1: User Registration & Profiles

Everyone starts by creating an account:

• Provide your name, email, and phone number
• Choose your role (Rider or Driver)
• Set a secure password

If you're a Driver:

• After registering, you need to create a driver profile
• Provide your driver's license number
• Select which routes you want to operate on

If you're a Rider:

• After registering, a rider profile is automatically created
• You're ready to start booking rides

---

Step 2: Routes

What is a Route? A route is a path from one location to another. For example:

• Kigali → Huye
• Musanze → Kigali
• Rubavu → Gisenyi

How Routes Work:

• Routes are predefined in the system
• Drivers choose which routes they want to operate on
• One driver can operate on multiple routes
• Multiple drivers can operate on the same route

---

Step 3: Creating Rides (For Drivers)

When a driver wants to offer a ride:

1. Select a Route: Choose from your approved routes (e.g., Kigali → Huye)
2. Set the Price: How much will each seat cost? (e.g., 3,000 RWF)
3. Set Departure Time: When will you leave? (e.g., Tomorrow at 8:00 AM)
4. Set Available Seats: How many passengers can you take? (e.g., 4 seats)

Example:

Driver: John Doe
Route: Kigali → Huye
Price: 3,000 RWF per seat
Departure: Dec 15, 2024 at 8:00 AM
Available Seats: 4
Status: Scheduled

---

Step 4: Booking Rides (For Riders)

When a rider wants to book a ride:

1. Search for Rides: Look for rides going to your destination

   • Filter by route, date, and price
   • See available seats

2. Select a Ride: Choose a ride that fits your schedule

3. Book Seats:

   • Select how many seats you need (1, 2, or more)
   • Confirm your booking

4. Booking Status:

   • Pending: Waiting for driver confirmation
   • Confirmed: Your seat is secured
   • Completed: The ride has finished
   • Cancelled: Booking was cancelled

Example:

Rider: Jane Smith
Ride: Kigali → Huye (Driver: John Doe)
Seats Booked: 2
Price: 6,000 RWF (2 seats × 3,000 RWF)
Status: Confirmed

---

System Flow Diagram

┌─────────────┐
│    USER     │
│ (Register)  │
└──────┬──────┘
       │
       ├─────────────┬─────────────┐
       ▼             ▼             ▼
   ┌───────┐    ┌────────┐    ┌───────┐
   │ RIDER │    │ DRIVER │    │ ADMIN │
   └───┬───┘    └────┬───┘    └───────┘
       │             │
       │             ├─→ Select Routes
       │             │
       │             ├─→ Create RIDE
       │             │   (Route, Price,
       │             │    Time, Seats)
       │             │
       ▼             ▼
   Search Rides ←── RIDE ──→ Manage Ride
       │             │
       ├─→ Select    │
       │   Ride      │
       │             │
       ├─→ BOOKING ←─┤
       │   (Confirm  │
       │    Seats)   │
       │             │
       ▼             ▼
   View Bookings  View Passengers

---

ERD DIAGRAM

Important Features

For Riders:

• Search rides by route and date
• Book multiple seats in one booking
• View all your bookings (past and upcoming)
• Cancel bookings if plans change
• See driver information

For Drivers:

• Create multiple rides on your routes
• Set your own prices
• See who has booked your rides
• Manage seat availability
• Cancel rides if needed
• View your ride history

For Everyone:

• Secure login with email and password
• Contact information (phone) for communication
• Timestamp tracking (when bookings/rides were created)
• Status tracking for rides and bookings

---

Data We Track

User Information:

• Name, email, phone number
• Role (Rider/Driver/Admin)
• Account status (Active/Inactive)

Driver Information:

• License number
• Routes they operate on
• All their rides

Ride Information:

• Which driver is offering it
• Which route it follows
• Price per seat
• Number of available seats
• Departure date and time
• Current status

Booking Information:

• Which rider made the booking
• Which ride they booked
• How many seats they booked
• Booking status
• When the booking was made

---

Benefits

For Riders:

• Affordable transportation
• Flexible scheduling
• Easy to find rides
• Know your driver in advance

For Drivers:

• Earn money from your trips
• Control your schedule
• Make use of empty seats
• Know your passengers

For the Platform:

• Reduce traffic congestion
• Environmentally friendly (carpooling)
• Build community connections
• Track and improve service

---

Booking Lifecycle

Ride Created (Driver)
       ↓
Ride Available for Booking
       ↓
Rider Searches & Finds Ride
       ↓
Rider Makes Booking → Status: PENDING
       ↓
Driver Reviews Booking
       ↓
Driver Confirms → Status: CONFIRMED
       ↓
Departure Time Arrives
       ↓
Ride Happens
       ↓
Ride Completed → Status: COMPLETED
       ↓
Booking Marked Complete

---

Safety & Trust

• All drivers must provide valid license numbers
• Contact information is verified (email and phone)
• Booking history helps build trust
• Status tracking ensures transparency
• Admin oversight for dispute resolution

---

This system makes transportation easier, more affordable, and more efficient for everyone!