“Your youth isn’t meant to be spent staring at

a train window while time slips through your fingers.”

Sounds like something my mom

would say… and let’s be real,

she’s usually right 😂

And yes, we gave out this survey flyers to Caltrain riders during rush hours.

What is Buddy Ride?

74% of commuters are stuck in the doom-scroll, wasting hours they’ll never get back. Buddy Ride flips the script—turning dead time into game-changing connections, friendships, and opportunities you can’t afford to miss.

The Commute Crisis

74% of commuters feel like their travel time is wasted.

58% want to meet new people but hesitate to start conversations.

72% are concerned about safety & privacy when engaging with strangers.

Source: Buddy Ride Target User Survey

"Nobody talks to each other on the train. Everyone’s stuck on their phones, just scrolling. But what if your commute wasn’t just time lost?"

• 75% of commuters scroll endlessly. 65% tune out with music. They’re not engaging, just consuming.

• They’re watching others live their lives instead of connecting with the people right next to them.

• But when we spoke to them? Their faces lit up. They smiled. They wanted interaction.

Source: Buddy Ride Target User Survey

How Buddy Ride Works

Meet. Ride. Connect. 🚆 Let your commute work for you.

Source: Buddy Ride Target User Survey

Buddy Ride makes socializing during your commute effortless, safe, and fun—without disrupting your routine.

• Smart Group Matching – AI analyzes your interests and recommends group rides with like-minded commuters. No awkward 1:1 setups, just natural connections.

• Trusted & Secure – Verified profiles earn credibility badges, and after real-life meetups, users can rate each other—just like Uber and Lyft. Privacy? Covered. Screenshots of profiles are automatically blurred to prevent misuse.

• Seamless & Effortless – Your commute is already happening. Buddy Ride simply enhances it—no extra scheduling, no extra effort, just better mornings.

  • James Carter (34)

    Data Scientist

    An extrovert who loves cycling and football but struggles to find reliable ways to meet like-minded friends outside of work

  • Sophie Ramirez (26)

    Marketing Associate

    Spending her daily Caltrain commute endlessly scrolling but secretly wishes for real conversations to break the monotony

  • Ming Xuan (37)

    Bakery store manager

    A single mother in Millbrae, juggles raising her 6-year-old son, managing a bakery, and searching for affordable education to transition into a better career.

Follow our journey.

This project is currently work in progress!

Contact for more information.