Geb A Ride — How It Works
Version 1.6 — August 26, 2026
These instructions will continue to be updated as the system develops. Please check the version number when reading or sharing this document.
Registration — Required for Everyone
Complete the online registration form once. The same account works for requesting rides and offering rides.
You may create a new household or connect to an existing household by entering the primary household member’s telephone number.
Ride requests may be made only for members of your household or family guests traveling with or visiting your household. Each household’s account is intended only for the household connected to that membership.
Before using the service, members must accept:
- The Geb A Ride Liability Agreement
- The Code of Ethics
A valid email address is required. A verification email will be sent after registration to confirm that the address is genuine and working.
Applications will be reviewed before membership is approved.
Location Abbreviations
The following abbreviations may be used:
- L — Linden
- U — Union
- BP
- WB — Williamsburg
- MS — Monsey
- LW — Lakewood
- KJ — Kiryas Joel
- SI — Staten Island
Full location names may also be used.
Start Here: The Two Basic Commands
Don’t have time to read about all the advanced features? Here are the basic commands you need to know to get started.
The Simplest Way to Request a Ride
Start with:
LOOKING BP TO L
The system will ask you the remaining questions.
- LOOKING — You need a ride.
- BP — Starting location. Replace it with any available location, or BP cross streets such as 11 52. Cross streets work only for BP.
- TO — Separates the starting location from the destination.
- L — Destination. Replace it with any available location. Cross streets are not yet available outside BP.
Basic format: LOOKING + starting location + TO + destination
The Simplest Way to Offer a Ride
Start with:
GOING BP TO L
The system will ask you the remaining questions.
- GOING — You are offering a ride.
- BP — Starting location. Replace it with any available location, or BP cross streets such as 11 52. Cross streets work only for BP.
- TO — Separates the starting location from the destination.
- L — Destination. Replace it with any available location. Cross streets are not yet available outside BP.
Basic format: GOING + starting location + TO + destination
You can also text HELP to receive the basic commands on your phone.
Part One: Rider Instructions
1. Requesting a Ride
To request a ride, begin your message with LOOKING.
Examples:
LOOKING BP TO L 1 WLOOKING L TO BP 1 MLOOKING MS TO L 5:30 1 W
If no time is included, the request means now.
You will NOT type your telephone number because the system already knows it.
If you include a future time, the system will look for drivers traveling at that time. It may also notify you about rides at nearby times that could possibly work.
After receiving your request, the system will send a confirmation showing what it understood.
Example:
You requested BP to Linden now. Your search will remain active for one hour, until 6:15. Reply CANCEL if you no longer need the ride.
Review this message carefully. If the system misunderstood your request, cancel it and send a corrected request.
2. Pickup Location When Leaving BP
Riders leaving BP should include their location, especially a street and avenue.
Example:
LOOKING BP TO L 11 & 52
If you are moving and do not have a fixed pickup point, you may write:
LOOKING BP TO L MOVING
Including MOVING in the original request avoids an additional location question.
If a rider is leaving BP and does not include a location, the system will ask for it. The rider may reply with a location or with MOVING.
Riders traveling to BP will not be asked for a BP location.
Drivers may also include their location, although drivers are often moving and will not normally be prompted for it.
3. Passenger Information
Always include the number and passenger types, even when the request is for one passenger. The member may be requesting a ride for someone else, so the system will not assume who is traveling.
Passenger codes:
- M — Man or boy
- W — Woman or girl
- BABY — Baby
Examples:
LOOKING L TO BP 2 MLOOKING BP TO L 1 W 1 BABYLOOKING L TO WB 1 M 1 W 1 BABY
If passenger information is missing, the system will ask for it before posting the request.
4. Receiving a Possible Match
When a possible driver is found, the system will send only the information relevant to your ride.
A message may look like this:
Possible ride for BP to L: Mr. David Brown is going at 6:10. Call (718) 555-0142. Vehicle: Silver Toyota Sienna, plate ABC123. Ride Code #334. Reply 334 when the ride is arranged, or CANCEL if you no longer need a ride.
A possible match is not a guaranteed ride. Unless the system specifically arranges and confirms the ride automatically, the rider and driver must contact each other and make final arrangements.
5. Confirming That You Are Covered
Every possible match receives a three-digit Ride Code, such as #334.
The message displays the number with a # because it is easier to recognize. You may reply with only the three digits:
334
The system may also accept #334, but the # is not required.
Once the system accepts the code:
- Your request closes
- You stop receiving additional matches for that request
- The correct driver receives credit
- The completed ride is recorded
6. Cancelling a Ride Request
If you no longer need a ride, reply:
CANCEL
If you have more than one active request, the system will ask which request you want to cancel.
Part Two: Driver Instructions
1. Offering a Ride
To offer a ride, begin your message with GOING.
Examples:
GOING BP TO LGOING L TO BP 7:15GOING L TO BP 10:30GOING SI TO L 8:00
If no time is included, the offer means now.
The system will confirm what it understood and notify you of possible riders.
A driver’s offer normally remains active until ten minutes after the stated departure time. If no time was included, it remains active for ten minutes after the message was sent.
2. Your Contact Setting
Drivers choose a usual contact setting during registration. The setting may be changed for a particular trip by including it in the ride offer.
PRIVATE
Only the driver receives the riders’ information.
The riders do not automatically receive the driver’s information. The driver decides whom to contact.
Example:
GOING BP TO L PRIVATE
CALL ME
The riders receive the driver’s information and are asked to call the driver.
The driver does not need to call every rider.
Example:
GOING BP TO L CALL ME
BOTH
Both sides receive the relevant contact information.
The driver receives the riders’ information, and the riders receive the driver’s information.
Example:
GOING BP TO L BOTH
If no setting is included in the message, the driver’s saved setting will be used.
3. Describing Available Seats
Drivers should include the available seats in the ride offer.
Seat codes:
- M — Seat reserved for a man or boy
- W — Seat reserved for a woman or girl
- FLEX — Seats that may be assigned to either men or women. Once the first passenger in that group is assigned, the remaining seats in that group will be offered only to passengers of the same gender.
Examples:
GOING BP TO L 1 MGOING BP TO L 1 M 3 FLEXGOING L TO BP 3 FLEX 3 FLEX
Each separate FLEX entry represents one group.
For example:
3 FLEX 3 FLEX
means that the vehicle has two separate groups of three seats. Once one group is assigned to a man or woman, the remaining seats in that group will generally be assigned compatibly. The other group may still be assigned separately.
A baby does not affect the men’s and women’s seating classification.
4. Receiving Rider Information
If one rider is looking, the driver may receive:
Possible rider for BP to L: Mrs. R. Schwartz—1 woman. Location: 11th Avenue and 52nd Street. Call (718) 555-0188. Ride Code #334. Reply 334 when arranged.
If several people are looking, the driver may receive:
Possible riders for BP to L:
#334 Mrs. R. Schwartz—1 woman—11 & 52—(718) 555-0188
#517 Mr. Jacob Blum—1 man—13 & 45—(347) 555-0128
#802 Mrs. S. Brown—1 woman and 1 baby—14 & 50—(917) 555-0164
Reply with the code for each ride you arrange. Reply FULL when you have no more room or CANCEL if you are no longer going.
The driver may confirm each rider by replying with the three-digit code:
334517
The # is optional when replying.
5. When the Vehicle Is Full
When there is no more room, reply:
FULL
The offer remains in the system’s records, but it stops producing new matches.
6. Cancelling a Driver’s Trip
To cancel one confirmed rider without cancelling the trip, send CANCEL followed by that rider’s Ride Code:
CANCEL 334
The rider will be notified and the driver’s trip will remain active.
If the driver is no longer going, reply:
CANCEL
If the driver has one active trip, it will be cancelled.
Confirmed riders will be notified immediately. Their ride searches may be reopened if there is still time remaining.
If the driver has more than one active trip, the system will ask which trip should be cancelled.
7. Reporting a Delay
If a driver expects a delay, the driver may send:
DELAY 15
This means the trip is delayed by 15 minutes.
All confirmed riders will be notified of the updated departure time.
A rider who cannot make the new time should reply CANCEL immediately so the driver and system know that the rider is no longer coming.
Part Three: Advanced Rider Options
1. Looking for More Than One Possible Destination
A rider may accept more than one destination.
Examples:
LOOKING L TO SI OR BPLOOKING BP TO L OR U
The system may match the rider with a driver traveling to either listed destination.
2. Nearby-Time Matches
If no exact-time ride is found, the system may tell the rider about a nearby-time ride.
Example:
No exact match was found for 5:00. A driver is going at 5:30. This may work for you.
The rider decides whether the alternative time is suitable.
3. Mixed Family Groups
When one request includes both male and female family members, the system may ask:
May these passengers sit next to each other? Reply Y or YES, or N or NO.
For example, a request for 1 M 2 W may represent close family members who are comfortable sitting together.
The system may also ask:
Must everyone travel in the same vehicle? Reply TOGETHER or SPLIT.
- TOGETHER — Everyone must ride in one vehicle
- SPLIT — The system may divide the group between suitable vehicles
4. Sending a Package
To request transportation for a package, use PACKAGE exactly as you would use LOOKING, replacing LOOKING with PACKAGE. All the same request and matching rules apply.
Every package must be handed directly to the driver at the vehicle and collected directly from the driver at the vehicle. The driver will not be required to leave the car.
The sender must accept:
I confirm that the package is properly closed and ready for transport. The volunteer driver does not know what is inside the package and accepts no responsibility for its contents, condition, loss, damage, delivery, or legality. The sender and recipient must meet the driver at the vehicle; the driver will not leave the car.
Package transportation is not guaranteed.
Part Four: Advanced Driver Options
1. Providing a More Detailed Route
Drivers may describe the streets or route they expect to use.
Example:
GOING BP TO L DOWN 13TH AVE FROM 38TH 1 M 3 FLEX
This can help the system identify riders who can meet the driver along the route.
2. Letting the System Fill the Seats
A driver may allow the system to contact appropriate riders, confirm who can meet the trip and report the final passenger list by adding AUTO to the ride offer.
Example:
GOING 13 & 45 TO L 6:15 3 FLEX 3 FLEX AUTO
AUTO may tell all selected riders to meet at one fixed pickup point, or it may arrange pickups along the route stated by the driver.
If the driver writes FROM WORK, the riders will receive the actual address, such as 1200 39th Street, rather than the driver’s private saved name WORK. Each rider must confirm that exact pickup location and that they will be ready at the departure time.
If the driver gives a route, such as traveling down 13th Avenue, the system will ask each rider which cross street they can meet at. Only riders who confirm a suitable point along that route may be selected.
A rider listed as MOVING cannot be automatically confirmed. The rider must first give a fixed pickup location or cross street.
Before confirming anyone, the system will check:
- Passenger type
- Available seat arrangement
- Pickup point
- Departure time
- Whether the rider agrees to be ready
The driver will then receive a message such as:
Three passengers confirmed for your 6:15 BP to Linden trip:
Mrs. R. Schwartz—1 woman—1200 39th Street—(718) 555-0188
Mr. Jacob Blum—1 man—1200 39th Street—(347) 555-0128
Mrs. S. Brown—1 woman and 1 baby—1200 39th Street—(917) 555-0164
Reply DELAY followed by the number of minutes if delayed, FULL if no more room, or CANCEL if you are no longer going.
This means the driver only sends the offer; the system handles the arrangements, and the driver follows the pickup list along the way. Truly amazing feature!
Part Five: Advanced Options and Rules for Everyone
Every command and reply works the same in uppercase, lowercase or mixed case.
1. Saved Locations
Members may save frequently used locations under a short name.
Examples:
ADD LOCATION WORK 123 MAIN STREETADD LOCATION SCHOOL 45 PARK AVENUE
Later, the member may write:
LOOKING WORK TO LGOING HOME TO BP
HOME means the member’s registered home address.
When a location must be shared with another person, the system will provide the appropriate street address rather than the member’s private label.
2. Checking Your Status
Text:
STATUS
The system will list your active rider requests and driver offers. It will show the route, passenger or seat information, departure time, location when relevant, expiration time and current status.
If you have several active requests or offers, each one will be listed separately.
If you started a request or offer but still need to answer a question, STATUS will show what information is still needed.
3. Comments
Use COMMENT or C to add a plain-text comment to a ride request or offer.
COMMENT or C must be placed last in the message. Everything after COMMENT or C is treated only as the member's comment. The system will ignore everything after it.
Examples:
GOING BP TO L 3 FLEX C My AC is broken.LOOKING BP TO L 13 & 38 1 W COMMENT I do not have a car seat.
The comment will be sent to the relevant rider or driver exactly as it was typed, without the system interpreting or changing it. Comments may contain up to 300 characters.
4. Ride Codes
Each possible match receives a rotating three-digit Ride Code from 001 through 999.
The code is displayed with a #, such as:
- #334
The # makes the code easy to recognize. Members may reply with only:
334
The system uses the code to determine:
- Which rider was covered
- Which driver provided the ride
- Which request should close
- Which driver should receive credit
- How many trips and rides each household gave and received
5. Telephone Service
Members who do not text may call the same service number.
The telephone system will use recorded prompts and keypad choices. It will answer ride-related requests only and will not answer unrelated questions.
Registration and registration updates must be completed through the website.
By telephone, approved members will be able to:
- Request a ride
- Offer a ride
- Hear possible matches
- Select a match
- Confirm or cancel a ride
- Hear important updates connected to their activity
When passenger types are required, the system will ask separately for each passenger:
Passenger 1: Press 1 for a man, press 2 for a woman, or press 3 for a baby.
It will repeat the question for Passenger 2, Passenger 3 and so forth.
When a driver hears a list of possible riders, the driver may select a rider using the telephone keypad. The system may then place the call through the service.
6. Email Communication
A valid email address is required during registration.
Email will be used for:
- Email verification
- Application confirmations
- Approval and registration updates
- Important service announcements
- Information related to membership
- Commercial or sponsored messages that help cover operating costs
Please make sure the email address entered during registration is correct.
7. Commercial and Sponsored Messages
Members will be invited to consent to occasional commercial or sponsored text or telephone messages related to Linden and the local community.
These messages help cover the cost of operating and maintaining the service. The intention is to keep them occasional, useful and non-harassing.
Email may also be used for advertisements and sponsored messages that help cover costs.
8. Feedback
Community ideas and feedback are strongly encouraged.
By text, send:
FB followed by your messageFEEDBACK followed by your message
Example:
FB Please add another common destination.
Feedback may also be submitted through the website.
This is a community-based project. Its success will always depend on thoughtful ideas and feedback from the public—especially while the system is still being developed.
9. CHESED and PAID Rides
Drivers choose a usual payment setting when they apply:
- CHESED — The driver does not charge for the ride.
- PAID — The driver charges exactly $5 per ride. A driver may not charge more than $5 for a ride arranged through Geb A Ride.
The rider pays the driver directly. Geb A Ride Inc. does not collect the rider's $5 payment.
A driver may change the setting for one offered trip by adding PAID or CHESED to the message. For example:
GOING BP TO L IN 10 MIN 3 FLEX PAID
To change the usual setting, text DEFAULT PAID or DEFAULT CHESED.
For a PAID ride, the rider will see that the ride costs $5 before arranging it. After receiving payment, the driver records it by texting PAID followed by the Ride Code, such as PAID 334.
After a driver's third paid ride in a calendar month, Geb A Ride Inc. charges the driver's saved card $15 for that month. Card information is entered securely through Sola; Geb A Ride does not store the full card number.
Chesed Driver Priority
A trip means one completed driver posting. A driver may transport several passengers during one trip, but it still counts as one trip.
A driver who completed at least five trips during the previous month receives priority during the next month when requesting a ride. PAID trips do not count toward priority.
Priority works as follows:
- Eligible priority riders receive a 45-second head start on a new matching offer
- If several priority riders qualify, the person with more completed trips during the previous month is listed first
- Other priority riders follow in order of completed trips
- If no eligible priority rider matches the trip, regular matching begins immediately; the driver does not wait 45 seconds unnecessarily
10. Code of Ethics
The Geb A Ride Code of Ethics applies to every rider and driver. Members must read and accept it before using the service.
Important expectations include being ready before the driver arrives, bringing a legally appropriate child safety seat when needed, not eating in the vehicle, keeping telephone calls and passenger conversations limited and considerate, and not pressuring drivers for waits, stops, package collection or other favors outside the confirmed arrangement.
Administrators may review complaints and may warn, suspend or remove a member who violates these standards or puts others at risk.
11. Important Reminder
Geb A Ride is a community connection service. It is not a transportation company and does not guarantee that a ride will be available.
Drivers are independent community members offering voluntary favors.
Members must review and accept the full Liability Agreement before using the service.
Rider Cheat Sheet
Every command and reply works the same in uppercase, lowercase or mixed case.
- LOOKING — Request a ride
- L — Linden
- U — Union
- BP
- WB — Williamsburg
- MS — Monsey
- LW — Lakewood
- KJ — Kiryas Joel
- SI — Staten Island
- M — Man or boy
- W — Woman or girl
- BABY — Baby
- MOVING — No fixed pickup point yet
- CANCEL — Cancel your request
- 334 — Confirm the match with Ride Code #334
- TOGETHER — Everyone must use one vehicle
- SPLIT — Group may use separate vehicles
- FB or FEEDBACK — Send feedback
- STATUS — See your active rider requests and driver offers
- COMMENT or C — Add a plain-text comment at the end of your message
Sample request:
LOOKING BP TO L 11 & 52 1 W
Driver Cheat Sheet
Every command and reply works the same in uppercase, lowercase or mixed case.
- GOING — Offer a ride
- L, U, BP, WB, MS, LW, KJ, SI — Location abbreviations
- M — Seat for a man or boy
- W — Seat for a woman or girl
- FLEX — A group that can be assigned appropriately for men or women.
- PRIVATE — Only the driver receives rider information
- CALL ME — Riders receive the driver’s information and call
- BOTH — Both sides receive contact information
- 334 — Confirm the rider with Ride Code #334
- FULL — No more available room
- CANCEL — Cancel your trip
- DELAY 15 — Report a 15-minute delay
- HOME — Use your registered home address
- FB or FEEDBACK — Send feedback
- STATUS — See your active rider requests and driver offers
- COMMENT or C — Add a plain-text comment at the end of your message
Sample offer:
GOING BP TO L 1 M 3 FLEX BOTH