Terms of Use

1. Introduction

Welcome to Ride Along. These Terms of Use ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the Ride Along mobile application and related services (collectively, the "Service"), operated by [LEGAL COMPANY NAME] ("Ride Along," "we," "us," or "our").

Ride Along is a technology platform that operates a commuter ride-sharing marketplace connecting Passengers with Ride Partners who are already travelling and choose to share available seats in their vehicle. By creating an account or otherwise using the Service, you agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy.

Ride Along is a technology marketplace. Ride Along is not a taxi operator, transportation carrier, insurer, or financial institution, and does not itself provide transportation services. Journeys are provided by individual Ride Partners, who are independent users of the Platform and not employees or agents of Ride Along.

2. Definitions

• "Passenger" — a user who searches for and books available seats on a journey published by a Ride Partner.
• "Ride Partner" — a user who publishes a journey and makes available seats accessible to Passengers.
• "Journey" — a trip published by a Ride Partner, including route, departure time, available seats, and fare.
• "Booking" — a Passenger's confirmed reservation of one or more seats on a Journey.
• "Platform" / "Service" — the Ride Along mobile application and associated services.
• "Wallet" — the in-app record of earnings accrued by a Ride Partner through completed Journeys.

3. Eligibility

To use the Service, you must:

• Be at least [MINIMUM AGE] years old;
• Have the legal capacity to enter into a binding contract under Nigerian law;
• Not be prohibited from using the Service under applicable law;
• Provide accurate and complete registration information.

If you use the Service on behalf of another person, you represent that you are authorized to do so and to accept these Terms on their behalf.

4. Account Registration

To access certain features, you must register for an account and provide accurate, current, and complete information, including your name, email address, and phone number, and, where applicable, additional information required for Ride Partner verification.

You agree to keep your account information up to date. You may not create an account using a false identity or on behalf of someone else without authorization, and you may not maintain more than one active account except as we may permit.

5. Account Security

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activity that occurs under your account. You must notify us promptly at [SUPPORT EMAIL] if you become aware of any unauthorized use of your account or any other security breach.

We are not liable for any loss or damage arising from your failure to comply with this Section.

6. Passenger Accounts

As a Passenger, you may search for available Journeys, make Bookings, and pay for seats through the Service. You are responsible for:

• Ensuring the accuracy of information you provide, including pickup and drop-off details;
• Arriving at agreed pickup points on time;
• Treating Ride Partners and their vehicles with respect;
• Complying with any reasonable instructions given by the Ride Partner relating to the Journey.

7. Ride Partner Accounts

As a Ride Partner, you may publish Journeys and make seats available to Passengers. By publishing a Journey, you represent that:

• You genuinely intend to make the Journey as described;
• The information you provide about your route, vehicle, departure time, and available seats is accurate;
• You hold a valid driver's license and any other documentation legally required to operate your vehicle;
• Your vehicle is roadworthy and appropriately insured as required by applicable Nigerian law;
• You will comply with applicable traffic and road safety laws.

Ride Partners are independent users of the Platform and are solely responsible for the manner in which they conduct their Journeys.

8. Identity Verification

Ride Partners may be required to complete identity verification before publishing Journeys or receiving Bookings. This may involve submitting government-issued identification information, NIN information, a selfie/photograph, and supporting documents, as described in our Privacy Policy.

You agree to provide accurate and genuine verification information. Providing false, misleading, or fraudulent verification information is a material breach of these Terms and may result in account suspension or termination.

Our verification process does not include automated liveness or anti-spoofing detection at this time. Verification status reflects the outcome of our verification procedures as they exist from time to time and does not constitute a guarantee of a Ride Partner's identity, fitness to drive, or trustworthiness.

9. Journey Listings

Ride Partners publish Journeys through the Service, including route, departure time, available seats, and fare. Ride Along does not guarantee that any Journey will be completed as listed, and Ride Partners may cancel or modify Journeys subject to Section 14.

Ride Along reserves the right to remove or restrict Journey listings that violate these Terms or that we reasonably believe are fraudulent, unsafe, or misleading.

10. Booking Process

Bookings are subject to seat availability at the time of booking. A Booking is confirmed only once payment has been successfully processed through the Service's payment infrastructure.

Ride Along calculates the applicable booking price on our servers based on the Journey details and applicable fees. Users cannot determine or manipulate the final booking amount by submitting their own price, and any attempt to do so is a violation of these Terms.

11. Pricing and Fees

Journey fares and applicable platform/service fees are calculated and displayed within the Service prior to Booking confirmation. Fees may vary based on factors such as route, demand, and platform policies in effect at the time of Booking.

Ride Along may update its pricing and fee structure from time to time. The fees applicable to a given transaction are those displayed in the app at the time of Booking.

12. Payments

Payments for Bookings are processed through the Service's payment infrastructure, which may involve third-party payment providers. Payment confirmation is determined by our payment infrastructure and is not based solely on information a user reports within the app.

You agree to pay all amounts due for Bookings you make. Ride Along does not store raw card numbers, CVV codes, PINs, or other sensitive card credentials; such information, where applicable, is handled by our payment provider(s).

13. Wallet and Earnings

Ride Partners may accrue earnings from completed Journeys in an in-app Wallet. The Wallet is currently earn-only, and there is presently no self-service withdrawal feature within the app.

Ride Along may make administrative adjustments to Wallet balances where necessary, including support-related corrections or to facilitate payouts processed outside the app. The Wallet is not a bank account or deposit account.

[Business decision required: Ride Along should confirm and communicate, outside these Terms, the process and expected timing by which Ride Partners can access or receive accrued earnings.]

14. Cancellations

15. Refunds

Eligibility for refunds, and the amount refundable, depends on factors such as the timing of cancellation, the reason for cancellation, and the cancellation/refund policy displayed within the app at the time of the relevant Booking. Platform/service fees may be non-refundable in certain circumstances, as indicated in the applicable in-app policy.

Ride Along may, at its discretion, intervene in a Booking dispute (for example, where a Journey did not occur as described) and determine an appropriate resolution, which may include a full or partial refund.

[Business decision required: specific refund percentages, timeframes, and fee treatment should be defined in a configurable in-app cancellation/refund policy referenced by these Terms.]

16. Ride Partner Responsibilities

Ride Partners must:

• Operate their vehicle safely and in compliance with applicable Nigerian traffic laws;
• Maintain valid documentation, including a driver's license and any required vehicle documentation and insurance;
• Provide accurate journey, vehicle, and availability information;
• Treat Passengers with respect and without discrimination;
• Not carry more Passengers than the seats made available and paid for;
• Not engage in reckless, unsafe, or impaired driving.

17. Passenger Responsibilities

Passengers must:

• Provide accurate booking information, including pickup and drop-off details;
• Arrive at the agreed pickup point on time;
• Treat Ride Partners with respect;
• Not engage in conduct that endangers the Ride Partner, other passengers, or road users;
• Pay all amounts due for confirmed Bookings.

18. Vehicle and Journey Requirements

Ride Partners are solely responsible for ensuring that their vehicle is roadworthy, appropriately licensed, and insured as required by applicable Nigerian law, and that the information they provide about the vehicle (make, model, registration, seating capacity) is accurate. Ride Along does not inspect vehicles and does not guarantee their condition or roadworthiness.

19. Safety

Ride Along is a technology marketplace that facilitates connections between Passengers and Ride Partners. Ride Along does not control the conduct of users and cannot guarantee the safety of any Journey. Users must exercise reasonable judgment, take reasonable precautions, and comply with applicable Nigerian laws when using the Service.

We encourage users to verify Journey details before travelling, share trip details with a trusted contact where possible, and report any safety concerns to us promptly.

20. Prohibited Conduct

You agree not to:

• Provide false, inaccurate, or misleading information, including in connection with identity verification, journey listings, or bookings;
• Harass, threaten, abuse, or discriminate against any user;
• Engage or attempt to engage in violence, assault, or any unlawful act against another user;
• Commit or attempt to commit fraud, including payment fraud or manipulation of pricing;
• Attempt to circumvent the Platform's booking or payment systems, including by arranging off-platform payment for a Journey initiated through the Service in order to avoid applicable fees;
• Share your account credentials or allow another person to use your account;
• Misrepresent your identity, vehicle, or journey details;
• Use the Service for any illegal purpose;
• Interfere with or disrupt the Service, including through hacking, scraping, or introducing malicious code;
• Engage in unsafe driving, including driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

21. Fraud and Platform Abuse

Ride Along actively monitors for fraud and platform abuse, including manipulated bookings, fraudulent verification submissions, and payment abuse. Engaging in such conduct is a material breach of these Terms and may result in immediate suspension or termination of your account, forfeiture of Wallet balances associated with fraudulent activity to the extent permitted by law, and reporting to law enforcement or regulatory authorities where appropriate.

22. Off-Platform Transactions / Circumvention

Users agree not to use information obtained through the Service to arrange rides or payments outside the Platform for the purpose of avoiding applicable fees or bypassing Ride Along's booking and payment systems. Doing so undermines the safety, pricing integrity, and dispute-resolution mechanisms the Platform provides, and may result in account restrictions.

23. User Content

You may submit content to the Service, such as your profile photo, vehicle details, or communications with support ("User Content"). You retain ownership of your User Content but grant Ride Along a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, store, and display such content as reasonably necessary to operate and provide the Service.

You represent that you have the right to submit any User Content you provide and that it does not infringe the rights of any third party.

24. Reviews/Ratings

Where the Service includes a rating or review feature, ratings and reviews must be honest, based on genuine experience, and must not contain false, defamatory, or abusive content. Ride Along may remove ratings or reviews that violate this Section or these Terms.

[Business decision required: confirm whether a ratings/reviews feature currently exists or is planned, so this section can be finalized or removed.]

25. Intellectual Property

The Service, including its software, design, trademarks, logos, and content (excluding User Content), is owned by or licensed to Ride Along and is protected by applicable intellectual property laws. You are granted a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to use the Service for its intended purpose. You may not copy, modify, distribute, sell, or reverse-engineer any part of the Service except as permitted by law.

26. Third-Party Services

The Service integrates with third-party services, including Google Maps/Google Places for location and mapping functionality, and third-party payment providers for payment processing. Your use of such third-party services may be subject to their own terms and privacy policies. Ride Along is not responsible for the acts, omissions, or performance of third-party service providers.

27. Platform Availability

We aim to keep the Service available and functioning properly, but we do not guarantee uninterrupted, error-free, or continuous availability. We may suspend, restrict, or modify the Service, in whole or in part, for maintenance, updates, security reasons, or other operational needs, with or without notice where reasonably necessary.

28. Disclaimers

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable Nigerian law:

• The Service is provided "as is" and "as available," without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied.
• Ride Along does not warrant that the Service will be uninterrupted, secure, or error-free, or that any Journey will be completed as described.
• Ride Along does not guarantee the identity, conduct, driving ability, or trustworthiness of any Ride Partner or Passenger, and identity verification does not constitute such a guarantee.
• Ride Along is a technology marketplace and is not a party to the transportation arrangement between a Passenger and a Ride Partner.

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits any liability that cannot be excluded or limited under applicable Nigerian law.

29. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable Nigerian law, Ride Along, its officers, employees, and affiliates shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or any loss of profits, revenue, data, or goodwill, arising out of or in connection with your use of the Service, including any Journey arranged through the Platform.

Ride Along's total aggregate liability arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Service shall not exceed the greater of (a) the amount of fees paid by you to Ride Along in the [TIME PERIOD] preceding the event giving rise to the claim, or (b) an amount to be specified by Ride Along.

[Business decision required: confirm the specific liability cap approach appropriate for the business and consistent with Nigerian consumer-protection law.]

30. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Ride Along, its officers, employees, and affiliates from and against any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of or related to: (a) your breach of these Terms; (b) your use of the Service; (c) your violation of applicable law; or (d) your interactions with other users, including any Journey you undertake.

31. Account Suspension and Termination

Ride Along may suspend, restrict, or terminate your account, in whole or in part, where we reasonably believe it is necessary to protect users or the Platform, including for reasons such as:

• Suspected fraud or platform abuse;
• Safety concerns;
• Identity verification issues, including submission of false verification information;
• Payment abuse;
• Violation of these Terms;
• Illegal activity;
• Provision of materially false information.

Where reasonably practicable, we will provide notice of the action taken and, where applicable, the reason. You may request a review of a suspension or termination decision by contacting [SUPPORT EMAIL].

32. Account Deletion

You may request deletion of your account at any time by contacting [SUPPORT EMAIL] or through in-app support, where available. Deletion of your account will be handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy, including any lawful retention obligations that apply to certain records even after account deletion.

33. Complaints and Disputes

If you have a complaint or dispute relating to a Journey, Booking, payment, or another user, please contact us at [SUPPORT EMAIL]. We will review reported issues and may take appropriate action, including facilitating a resolution between users, issuing a refund in appropriate cases, or restricting an account, at our reasonable discretion.

[Business decision required: confirm whether Ride Along wishes to include a formal escalation or arbitration mechanism for unresolved disputes.]

34. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, without regard to conflict-of-law principles. Subject to Section 33, any dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Service shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Nigeria.

[Business decision required: confirm the specific state/jurisdiction for courts (e.g., Lagos State, FCT Abuja) and whether arbitration should be the primary dispute-resolution mechanism instead of litigation.]

35. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. Where changes are material, we will provide notice through the app or by other reasonable means before the changes take effect. Continued use of the Service after the effective date of updated Terms constitutes acceptance of those Terms.

36. General Legal Provisions

• Entire Agreement: These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and any policies referenced herein, constitute the entire agreement between you and Ride Along regarding the Service.
• Severability: If any provision of these Terms is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect.
• No Waiver: Our failure to enforce any provision of these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of that provision.
• Assignment: You may not assign or transfer your rights under these Terms without our prior written consent. We may assign these Terms in connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets.
• Relationship of Parties: Nothing in these Terms creates an employment, agency, partnership, or joint-venture relationship between Ride Along and any user.

37. Contact Information

If you have questions about these Terms, contact us at: