At RELAY, we’re building more than just a carpooling app to create a platform for parents to connect and support each other in meaningful and trusted ways. Our newly designed feature is to strengthen the community by connecting parents whose children attend the same school or local activities. With RELAY, carpooling becomes not just a convenience but a way to form reliable connections that benefit both parents and children.
Verified School Groups — Secure and Trusted Connections
Our research shows that parents tend to rely on close family and friends for transportation help, but these networks are often limited. With RELAY, we’re helping parents safely expand their trusted circle by creating verified school communities.
When signing up, parents enter their child’s school name and a school-affiliated email address, which we verify to ensure only families from that school can join. This feature brings peace of mind to parents who know they’re connecting with others who share similar values. For children, carpooling with familiar faces helps build friendships, fostering a sense of belonging.
Expanding Connections Through Local Activities
Kids’ extracurricular activities are another valuable way for parents to connect. Our survey showed that 86.7% of families have children attending activities outside of school, with over 63.3% participating several times a week.
To meet this need, we’ve mapped local community centers across Vancouver, making it easy for parents to join activity-based groups and connect with other families who share similar schedules. By coordinating rides within these shared spaces, parents can rely on familiar faces and strengthen their social networks.
This feature helps parents expand their trusted connections, building a support system that fosters social capital and a stronger community.
Private Groups for Close-Knit Carpooling
For some, a smaller and more personal network is ideal. Our research found that 83.3% of parents prefer private groups to coordinate with trusted contacts. With RELAY’s private group feature, parents can create exclusive circles—perfect for close friends, sports teams, or neighborhood groups.
A youth rugby coach has earlier shared with us that creating a private group could help simplify coordinating rides for practices, enabling parents to manage carpooling within a close-knit group. These private groups give parents more control and confidence when arranging rides for their children.
Seamless Communication and Planning All in One Place
RELAY consolidates all carpooling needs in one convenient app, from inviting friends and group chats to live GPS tracking and optimized route suggestions. This streamlined approach is far more reliable than using multiple apps, making it easy for parents to support each other, build strong connections, and simplify their daily schedules.
We’re excited to bring you this feature soon—stay tuned for more updates!