How it works

1. Post a trip (Driver)

Drivers post a trip with origin, destination, date/time, seats available, and an optional short bio. Posting creates an off-chain trip listing (fast and searchable) and an on-chain escrow account is prepared only when a passenger accepts and payment is required.

2. Find and request a ride (Passenger)

Passengers search by route and time, then send a request to a driver. The driver reviews requests and accepts matching passengers. Location-based matching prioritises minimal detours and shared routes.

3. Secure payment with on-chain escrow

Fares are quoted in EUR and settled in USDC on Solana. When a passenger and driver agree, the required USDC is moved into an on-chain escrow account. Funds are held until the trip completes and both parties confirm — then the driver receives payment. This ensures fairness and reduces no-shows.

4. Reputation and rewards (On-chain)

After each completed trip, both driver and passenger can rate each other. Ratings are recorded as lightweight on-chain reputation badges on Solana, creating an auditable trust signal that is fast and low-cost to update. Good behaviour can earn small rewards or priority in future matches.

5. Privacy and community-first design

Bóthar is designed for community use, not commercial dispatch. Profiles include a short bio and public reputation score; personal contact details are only shared after a booking is confirmed. We minimise on-chain data to avoid leaking sensitive information.

Quick example flow

1. Driver posts: “Kilkenny → Dublin, 08:00, 3 seats”.
2. Passenger finds the trip and requests a seat; driver accepts.
3. Passenger authorises USDC payment; funds are placed in escrow on Solana.
4. After the ride, passenger confirms arrival; escrow releases funds to driver.
5. Both parties leave ratings; reputation updates on-chain.