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Ridejoy is a west coast based application that provides users with another way to find rides with others. The user can sign up and search for rides to various destinations offered by other users. All rides come from the user community. Users can post a listing when they are driving to a location and have space for one or two extra passengers. Potential drivers can also look through listings made by passengers to see if anyone is looking for a ride to their destination. Passengers can also post listings to help them get where they want to go. Prior to committing to ride, the passenger and driver send messages to one another online and can share personal information and ask any questions they may have. An email is sent and both must accept the arrangements to make the ride official.

Ridejoy was developed in 2011 to create an alternative way for users to find inexpensive rides to the places they want to go. The site also hoped to encourage users to meet interesting people while enjoying a ride together. The site began as Burning Man Rides, which helped people organized shared rides to Burning Man. The group decided to make the service an all year long thing by creating Ridejoy.

Ridejoy offers a unique service that can help many people save money when traveling. The application allows the passenger and driver to meet online and work out an agreement that works for both. The terms are left up to the passenger and driver. Some require a fee while others simply ask that the cost of fuel be split. This allows users to find a ride to their destination without paying high fees for a rental car or other transportation fare.

Ridejoy uses a rather basic design that allows the user to easily explore potential rides without any distractions. The site maintains a modern appearance with hints of blue and gold set against a white background. Rides are listed by date, with origin and destination and a short description to help the user get started. Overall Ridejoy offers the user a quick way to find a cheap ride to many west coast destinations.

A new user can search for rides without signing up. Users who wish to take advantage of a ride or be a driver must create an account by clicking the “Sign Up” link near the upper, right hand corner of the Ridejoy homepage. A blue button at the top of the following page invites the user to connect with Facebook. The user will be asked to log in to Facebook and allow access to their account. At this time, no alternative registration option is offered however the site mentions plans for additional options to be added later.

Ridejoy invites all users to create an account for free. The site does not charge anything for its services. Users are given access to all features and listings and can return as often as they like. Some drivers may list a specific fee on their listing however this should be negotiated and agreed upon when settling the arrangements between driver and passenger. In most cases, the passenger is expected to pay for half or another specified portion of the gas costs. Drivers can charge more if they like, but this is determined up front before the passenger agrees to ride.

Ridejoy.com is aimed at anyone living along the west coast that wants to offer rides to cover some of their fuel costs or needs a cheap ride. The application is limited to the west coast and not all destinations may be available when the user wants to ride (it all depends on the user community). Passengers can meet interesting people and get a ride for less while drivers can find a way to lower the cost of traveling.

• Users can create an account and connect with a Facebook account
• All users can post as drivers or passengers
• Many west coast areas are currently covered by Ridejoy
• Arrangements are agreed upon by the driver and passenger
• Drivers can request a fee or gas money for driving passengers

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