Terms of Use

By creating an account or using the Usealong platform (whether through the mobile app or website) you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not use Usealong.

Usealong is a workplace carpooling platform that connects employees who offer rides (Hosts) with colleagues who need rides (Riders). Usealong facilitates the connection but is not itself a transportation provider. Hosts are private individuals driving their own personal vehicles, not professional drivers.

During the current pilot phase, Usealong is only available to staff at the following organisations: University of Lagos (Unilag), Lagos State University (LASU), the Lagos State Secretariat (Alausa), and Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).

You must be at least 18 years old and employed at a verified pilot workplace to use Usealong. You must provide accurate information during registration, including a valid phone number and workplace verification via company email or work ID. Providing false information is a material breach of these terms and will result in permanent account suspension.

As a Host, you agree to:

• Hold a valid driver's licence and maintain a roadworthy vehicle
• Only list routes you genuinely drive to your workplace
• Set fair and transparent pricing visible to riders before they apply
• Accept a maximum of two riders per trip
• Treat riders with respect and maintain a safe, comfortable vehicle
• Be available for pickups at the agreed time and location

You retain full discretion to decline or remove any rider from your car at any time, for any reason. Usealong does not penalise hosts for exercising this right, provided it is not discriminatory.

Reliability is core to Usealong. If a Host is unable to complete a scheduled pickup for any reason, they must notify both the Usealong platform and their rider(s) through the app. The following rules apply:

• 2 or more hours' notice: No penalty. The host must notify both the platform and their rider(s) at least 2 hours before the agreed pickup time.
• Less than 2 hours' notice: A fine of ₦5,000 is charged to the host and paid directly to the affected rider(s) as compensation for the inconvenience.
• No notice at all: A fine of ₦5,000 is charged to the host and paid to the affected rider(s). The host's account will be suspended immediately. Active subscriptions will be cancelled and riders will receive a pro-rated refund for unused days.

If a Host fails to complete pickups on 3 or more occasions within a single subscription period (regardless of notice given), that subscription will be cancelled. The host will be paid proportionally for trips successfully completed only. The affected rider(s) will be matched with an available alternative host.

Hosts are granted a 5-minute grace period beyond the agreed pickup time. If a rider has not appeared and has not notified the host, the host may leave after 5 minutes. That trip will be marked as completed and the host will receive full payment for it.

Fine payments are collected via a payment link sent to the offending party within 24 hours of the incident. Payment must be made within 24 hours of receiving the link. Failure to pay will result in the fine being deducted from the host's next payout, or from the rider's remaining subscription balance, as applicable.

As a Rider, you agree to:

• Be at the agreed pickup location and ready at the agreed time
• Treat your host and their vehicle with respect
• Pay your monthly subscription promptly
• Notify your host in advance if you will not need a ride on a given day, see the advance notice policy below

Riders must notify both the Usealong platform and their host if they will not be available for a scheduled pickup. The following rules apply:

• 2 or more hours' notice: No penalty. The rider must notify their host through the app at least 2 hours before the agreed pickup time.
• Less than 2 hours' notice: A fine of ₦5,000 is charged to the rider and paid to the host as compensation. The rider also receives a no-show strike.
• No notice at all: A fine of ₦5,000 is charged to the rider and paid to the host. The host will additionally be paid in full for that trip as though it were completed. The rider receives a no-show strike.

A rider who accumulates 3 no-show strikes within a single subscription period will have their subscription cancelled and their account suspended. Payment for trips already completed will not be refunded.

Riders suspended due to no-shows may appeal to the Usealong team after 30 days. Reinstatement is at Usealong's sole discretion.

Fine payments are collected via a payment link sent to the offending party within 24 hours of the incident. Payment must be made within 24 hours of receiving the link. Failure to pay will result in the fine being deducted from the rider's remaining subscription balance.

All payments are processed monthly via Paystack. The Usealong fee structure is straightforward:

• Hosts set their preferred monthly price for each rider seat
• Riders pay exactly the amount the host has listed, Usealong adds no extra charges to the rider
• Usealong deducts a 10% platform fee from the host's payout only

Example: A host lists a seat at ₦20,000/month. The rider pays ₦20,000. The host receives ₦18,000 after Usealong's 10% fee (₦2,000). Usealong retains ₦2,000 to cover platform operations, payment processing, and support.

Fares are agreed at the time of subscription and cannot be changed unilaterally during an active subscription period. Any fare changes take effect at the start of another subscription.

Refunds for mid-subscription cancellations are calculated on a pro-rata basis based on trips successfully completed. We aim to resolve all refund requests within 5 business days.

Upcoming: Usealong Wallet. Usealong is introducing an in-app wallet system. Once live, all users will be required to maintain a minimum wallet balance of ₦10,000 to access the platform. The wallet will be used to automatically collect fines, process payouts to hosts, and manage subscription payments. Users will be notified in advance before the wallet requirement takes effect.

Usealong is built on the trust that exists between colleagues. Any behaviour that violates this trust (including harassment, discrimination, threats, intimidation, or wilful misrepresentation) will result in immediate account suspension and possible permanent removal from the platform.

Usealong does not guarantee the condition, safety, punctuality, or availability of any ride. Users participate at their own risk.

You may not:

• Use Usealong for commercial transportation or ride-hailing
• Solicit personal contact details outside the platform
• Harass, threaten, or discriminate against other users
• Create multiple accounts to circumvent bans or restrictions
• Provide false information at any stage of registration or use

Violations may result in immediate account termination without notice.

Usealong reserves the right to suspend or permanently terminate accounts that violate these terms, provide false information, engage in behaviour harmful to other users, or misuse the platform in any way. Suspended users will be notified where possible, but Usealong is not obligated to provide prior notice in cases involving safety or serious misconduct.

Usealong provides a platform for connecting colleagues and is not responsible for incidents, disputes, or losses that occur during or in connection with a ride. Hosts and riders enter into arrangements voluntarily and at their own risk.

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Usealong's liability for any claim arising from use of the platform is limited to the amount paid by the user to Usealong in the three months preceding the claim.

We may update these terms as Usealong evolves. Significant changes will be communicated through the app and via email at least 7 days before taking effect. Continued use of the platform after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised terms. If you do not agree to updated terms, you may delete your account at any time.

If you have questions about these terms, please contact us at support@usealong.co or visit our Contact page.