Smart contracts for carpooling: a blockchain-based approach

Abstract

Most traditional carpooling schemes rely on centralized agents, with potential issues regarding trust, transparency, and additional commission fees. This paper introduces "Smart Contracts for Carpooling: A Blockchain-Based Approach", a decentralized application (dApp) that tackles these limitations. Building on the Ethereum blockchain and using smart contracts implemented in Solidity, our system offers secure, peer-to-peer transactions between drivers and passengers without relying on third-party authority. The platform enables users to sign up, post or request rides, match desired rides, and make payments—under laws by peer-to-peer transparent and tamperevident smart contracts. HTML, CSS, and JavaScript are used for frontend code, while Web3.js serves to integrate dApp with the Ethereum network via MetaMask. Development and testing were performed utilizing Ganache to mimic a local blockchain environment. This implementation demonstrates a functional, trustless carpooling system within a controlled setting, emphasizing block-chain’s potential to improve security, reduce operational costs, and eliminate reliance on intermediaries in the ride-sharing ecosystem. Although not yet deployed on a public network, the prototype showcases the feasibility and advantages of applying decentralized technologies to create efficient, user-centric transportation solutions.