Terms of Service — HelixRide

1. Acceptance of Terms

By downloading, installing, or using the HelixRide mobile application ("the App") or accessing this website, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, do not use the App or website.

These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and HelixRide ("we," "us," or "our"). We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. We will notify you of material changes through the app or by email. Continued use of the platform after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms.

2. Service Description

HelixRide is a technology platform that connects individuals seeking transportation ("Riders") with independent third-party providers of transportation services ("Drivers"). The App facilitates the request, matching, and payment for ride-sharing services.

HelixRide is not a transportation company. We do not provide transportation services and are not responsible for the acts or omissions of any Driver. Drivers operate as independent contractors, not employees or agents of HelixRide. The transportation service is provided by the Driver, not by HelixRide.

HelixRide makes no representation that the transportation services meet any particular standard, are safe, or are fit for any particular purpose. You use the platform at your own risk.

3. Eligibility

To use HelixRide, you must:

Be at least 18 years of age.
Be capable of entering into a legally binding agreement.
Have a valid iPhone running iOS 16 or later.
Provide accurate, current, and complete registration information.

By creating an account, you represent and warrant that all registration information you provide is accurate and that you will keep it up to date.

4. Rider Responsibilities

As a Rider, you agree to:

Provide accurate pickup and drop-off locations.
Be ready for pickup within a reasonable time of your driver's arrival.
Treat drivers with respect. Abusive, threatening, or discriminatory behavior toward drivers is strictly prohibited and may result in account suspension.
Not request rides for purposes that violate any applicable law.
Not bring prohibited items into a driver's vehicle, including weapons, illegal substances, or hazardous materials.
Pay all applicable fares, tips (if selected), and cancellation fees.
Comply with the driver's reasonable instructions regarding their vehicle.

5. Driver Responsibilities

As a Driver, you agree to:

Maintain a valid driver's license and all required permits and insurance for your jurisdiction.
Keep your vehicle in a safe, clean, and roadworthy condition.
Accurately represent your vehicle details in the app.
Comply with all applicable traffic laws and regulations at all times.
Treat riders with courtesy and professionalism.
Not engage in distracted driving, including using a handheld phone while operating a vehicle.
Not operate the app while intoxicated or impaired.
Complete accepted rides to the best of your ability.

HelixRide reserves the right to remove any Driver from the platform for violations of these responsibilities, rider complaints, low ratings, or any other reason at our sole discretion.

6. Payment Terms

Fare Calculation

Fares are calculated based on time, distance, and applicable local factors. The estimated fare shown before booking is an approximation; the final fare is calculated at trip completion and may differ slightly from the estimate.

Automatic Payment

By adding a payment method, you authorize HelixRide and its payment processor (Stripe) to charge your saved payment method automatically at the end of each completed trip. Payment processing is handled by Stripe, Inc. You agree to Stripe's Terms of Service in addition to these Terms.

Driver Earnings

Drivers receive 80% of each trip fare, plus 100% of any tip left by the rider. HelixRide retains 20% of the fare as a platform service fee. Earnings are transferred to the driver's linked bank account weekly.

Cancellation Policy

Riders may cancel a booked ride free of charge within 3 minutes of booking confirmation. Cancellations made more than 3 minutes after confirmation are subject to a $3.99 cancellation fee, which is paid to the driver to compensate for their time and travel.

Refunds

Fare disputes must be submitted within 14 days of the trip. Refunds are issued at HelixRide's sole discretion after review. We do not guarantee refunds for completed trips.

7. Prohibited Conduct

You agree not to:

Use the platform for any unlawful purpose or in violation of any applicable laws.
Harass, threaten, or harm any other user of the platform.
Create multiple accounts or misrepresent your identity.
Attempt to manipulate fares, ratings, or the matching algorithm.
Reverse engineer, decompile, or attempt to extract the source code of the App.
Scrape, crawl, or use automated tools to access the platform.
Interfere with or attempt to gain unauthorized access to our systems.
Upload or transmit viruses or any other malicious code.
Use the platform to collect personal information about other users without their consent.

Violation of this section may result in immediate account termination and may be reported to law enforcement authorities.

8. Ratings and Reviews

After each trip, Riders and Drivers may rate each other on a 1–5 star scale. Ratings are used to maintain the quality and safety of the platform. HelixRide reserves the right to suspend or remove accounts that consistently receive low ratings or that we determine to be unsafe or abusive based on feedback from other users.

9. Intellectual Property

All content, features, and functionality of the HelixRide app and website — including the name, logo, design, software, and text — are owned by HelixRide and are protected by applicable intellectual property laws. You are granted a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to use the App for its intended personal use. You may not copy, modify, distribute, sell, or create derivative works from any part of the platform without our express written consent.

10. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, HelixRide, its officers, employees, and agents shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your use of the platform, including but not limited to personal injury, property damage, loss of data, or any harm resulting from the actions of a Driver.

HelixRide's total liability to you for any claims arising under these Terms shall not exceed the amount you paid to HelixRide in the 12 months preceding the claim.

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of certain warranties or limitations on liability, so some of the above limitations may not apply to you.

11. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless HelixRide and its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, or expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of your use of the platform, your violation of these Terms, or your violation of any third-party rights.

12. Termination

We may suspend or terminate your account at any time, with or without notice, for any reason, including violation of these Terms. You may delete your account at any time from within the App or by contacting support@helixride.com.

Upon termination, your right to use the platform ceases immediately. Sections of these Terms that by their nature should survive termination — including Limitation of Liability, Indemnification, and Governing Law — shall survive.

13. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with applicable laws, without regard to conflict of law principles. Any disputes arising under these Terms shall be resolved through binding arbitration on an individual basis, unless prohibited by law. You waive any right to participate in a class action lawsuit or class-wide arbitration.

14. Contact Us

If you have any questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us:

HelixRide
Email: support@helixride.com