Barabara FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

Got Questions?

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about BaraBara – from riding and driving to community impact and sustainability.

How do I get a BaraBara ride? ▼

To book a BaraBara ride, simply follow these steps: Download the BaraBara App from the Google Play Store and App store. Register using your mobile phone number. Enter your pick-up and drop-off locations. Press select or choose your car size. It will say confirm pickup or confirm request. Click it and enjoy your ride. If you still need assistance, don't hesitate to contact us.

How do I know the fare before I get into a taxi or a motorcycle? ▼

When you request a ride through the BaraBara app, the platform displays the estimated fare before you confirm. The cost of a BaraBara ride depends on various factors such as distance and time. You can get a fare estimate by entering your pick-up and drop-off locations within the App. There is no overcharging or negotiation at the end of the trip.

What payment methods can I use? ▼

You can pay with cash, debit or credit cards, mobile money or wallet. If you pay by card or mobile money, the driver receives a payment message automatically.

How does the 4-digit trip code protect me? ▼

When you request a ride, the app generates a unique 4-digit code. You give that code to the driver at pickup, and the driver enters it into their app to officially start the trip. This ensures you are matched with the correct driver and prevents fraud or someone else taking your ride.

Is there an emergency button if I feel unsafe during a trip? ▼

Yes. Every trip includes a mandatory emergency button and a trip-sharing feature. You can share your real-time location with a friend or family member while the ride is ongoing. The emergency button alerts BaraBara's system and can be used to request immediate assistance.

Can I rate the rider or driver after the trip? ▼

Yes. After each ride, you can rate the driver's driving style, politeness and adherence to the route. That cumulative safety score helps future passengers choose trustworthy riders. It also helps BaraBara prioritise high-scoring riders for trip matching.

What insurance coverage do I have as a passenger? ▼

Every ride includes a basic micro-insurance policy that covers accident-related hospitalisation for the rider, passengers are subject to policy limits by the car/motorcycle owner. BaraBara will cover passengers once it introduces its own fleet.

Do I need an internet connection or a smartphone to use BaraBara? ▼

The app works best with a smartphone, but BaraBara also has a USSD fall back system in some markets. The platform was designed for Africa's unreliable internet.

What if a driver tries to charge me more than the displayed fare? ▼

We guarantee fare integrity the last fare display at the end of your trip is usual the last to pay, always ask the driver to show you the fare at the end of your trip, Barabara will send you the summary of your trip in your registered email or on the app.

Can I request multiple stops during a BaraBara ride? ▼

Yes, you can request multiple stops during your BaraBara ride. When you enter the destination address, just tap the + to add another address. Please keep in mind that multiple stops may affect the total fare, as fares are calculated based on distance and time.

Do you offer transportation options for individuals with wheelchairs? ▼

While we currently don't have wheelchair accessible cars on the platform, we are actively working towards expanding our services to include them. If you know someone with an accessible vehicle who might be interested in driving with BaraBara, please encourage them to apply.

Is it possible to travel with pets in BaraBara Vehicles? ▼

We understand that pets are part of the family, its up to each BaraBara driver to decide whether they accept pets in their vehicles. We recommend adding a note about your pet when booking a ride. If you have a service animal, all drivers are required to accept it. For everyone's comfort and safety, we suggest pets be transported in a pet carrier.

How do I register to become a BaraBara rider or driver? ▼

You can download barabara app from google store or apple store and sign up or complete a one-time registration that includes a subscription fee, providing a local council recommendation letter, a photo of your motorcycle or car, a passport photo, Your national identity card and your next of kin details. BaraBara then generates a tamper-proof digital identity that you can use to prove your legitimacy to passengers and traffic official.

What is the daily commission, and how is it collected? ▼

For motorcycle riders, the daily commission is calculated on each trip undertaken through the BaraBara App. The commission is automatically deducted from your in-app wallet.

How much more can I earn compared to working informally? ▼

An informal rider currently earns about $15/day but with BaraBara's real-time trip matching, you might earn up to $35/day as your idle waiting time is reduced dramatically.

Do I need to own my motorcycle or car? ▼

Yes. BaraBara does not own fleets. You bring your own motorcycle or vehicle. Our business model puts you in charge of your motorcycle or car. In the future, BaraBara EV will offer rent-to-ride electric motorcycles -making you save what you currently spend on fuel.

What insurance do I receive as a rider or driver? ▼

Every active rider and driver are covered by a micro-insurance policy for accident-related hospitalisation up to $500 per incident. This is included as part of your annual subscription.

How do I access a loan or credit using BaraBara? ▼

After three months of consistent earnings on the platform, you can request a verified digital earnings statement from the app. That statement is your first formal financial footprint. You can take it to a participating bank or mobile money operator to apply for a small loan (average first loan $150) for repairs, family needs, or fuel financing.

What happens if I miss a day of work? ▼

You are considered active only on days when you complete at least one trip. The daily commission is charged only for active days. BaraBara assumes 300 working days per year, allowing for rest days, religious holidays, and motorcycle/car maintenance. Remember to switch off your app while not working to avoid un necessary request while off duty.

What training do I receive? ▼

You get free access to the BaraBara Academy, which covers safe driving, customer care, financial literacy, hygiene, HIV/AIDS awareness, and mental health. For those joining the EV programme, additional training includes battery management and safe EV operation. Training is provided in French, English and Swahili languages.

Can I use BaraBara if I do not have a smartphone? ▼

Yes. While the full app is available for smartphones, BaraBara includes a USSD fallback system in some markets. You can receive basic SMS alerts without a data plan for example promotional and payment alerts.

How is my safety score calculated, and why does it matter? ▼

Your safety score is built from passenger ratings (driving style, politeness, route adherence) and any incident reports. Riders with high safety scores receive priority trip matching, meaning you get more ride requests. The score is visible to passengers, helping them choose trustworthy riders.

How does BaraBara involve local councils in rider registration? ▼

During registration, every rider must provide a recommendation letter from their local government leaders or council. This ensures that only known, vetted individuals from the community become BaraBara riders. It builds trust between the platform and the neighbourhood.

Does BaraBara create jobs for local youth and women? ▼

Yes. The electric vehicle rollout alone is projected to create 2,000+ direct green jobs, including technicians, battery-swap station attendants and trainers. Women and youth are prioritised for EV maintenance training through the BaraBara Academy and partnerships with local technical institutes.

How does BaraBara reduce congestion in my neighbourhood? ▼

By matching supply with demand in real time, BaraBara reduces the number of riders circling for fares or waiting idly at junctions. This decreases traffic congestion on local roads. The platform also shares anonymised data with city planners so they can make evidence-based decisions about where to add traffic signals or new roads.

What hygiene and health training do riders receive? ▼

BaraBara Academy includes mandatory hygiene training, which is especially important because passengers on motorcycles often share helmets. Riders also receive HIV/AIDS awareness and mental health modules. Free hygiene kits are made available at swapping stations through partnerships with global health funds.

How can local businesses advertise on BaraBara? ▼

BaraBara projects that 50 local and national brands (telecoms, restaurants, hotels, beverages, financial services) will be onboarded per year to display ads on physical billboards placed at high-traffic rider staging points. Interested businesses can contact opportunity@barabara.net

Does BaraBara work with existing rider associations? ▼

Yes. In DRC, BaraBara runs through Foundation Fonac and works closely with existing informal Wewa associations. Clementine Mayimbi, the DRC Country Director, is a Congolese national with deep relationships with driver associations, local government and mobile money operators.

What happens if a rider gets an accident in my community? ▼

Every rider has micro-insurance covering accident-related hospitalisation up to $500 per incident; just dial the nearest health care facility associated with Barabara to rescue him. Riders also undergo mandatory safety training to reduce accident rates. The platform shares anonymised accident location data with police so they can deploy enforcement at hotspots.

What real-time mobility data does BaraBara share with the government? ▼

BaraBara shares anonymised daily data on trip origins, destinations, travel times, and accident locations with the Ministry of Transport and city planning departments. For the first time, urban planners can see where congestion actually happens and where new roads or traffic signals are most needed.

How does BaraBara help the government collect taxes from informal transport? ▼

The platform offers an optional tax withholding mechanism: riders and drivers can authorise BaraBara to deduct a small provisional income tax and remit it directly to the tax authority. This gives riders a clean tax record and provides the government with a new revenue stream from a previously invisible sector.

Has any government officially recognised BaraBara? ▼

Yes. BaraBara is officially registered in South Africa expanding in other markets through service level agreements in, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda. BaraBara Group, the parent company of BaraBara App, operates in full compliance with digital economy code and transport regulations.

How does BaraBara contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals? ▼

The platform directly contributes to SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities) through evidence-based urban planning data. It supports SDG 7 (Clean Energy) through the electric vehicle rollout, SDG 13 (Climate Action) through carbon emission reductions, and SDG 3 (Good Health) through accident reduction and hygiene training.

Can BaraBara help the government enforce road safety? ▼

Yes. The platform's driver ratings and safety scores encourage safer driving. Anonymised accident hotspot data helps traffic law enforcement authority deploy enforcement at the most dangerous locations. Mandatory safety training for all riders reduces accident rates across the city. The government receives daily reports on rider behaviour and incident locations.

How does BaraBara help the government report on climate commitments? ▼

BaraBara shares real-time emissions data (from the EV fleet) and projected CO₂ savings with governments. This supports national reporting under the Paris Agreement NDCs for DRC, Uganda, and Kenya. Carbon credits generated from the EV programme are verified under international standards and can be counted toward national climate targets.

Does BaraBara require government subsidies? ▼

No. The core platform is profitable without subsidies because riders bring their own vehicles and pay commissions. However, for the EV rollout, government incentives such as import duty reductions or subsidised charging infrastructure would accelerate adoption. These are listed as potential additional revenue streams, not requirements.

How many tons of CO₂ will BaraBara save through electrification? ▼

At full scale with 50,000 electric motorcycles and 5,000 electric cars deployed by 2030, BaraBara will save over 170,000 tons of CO₂ per year. That is equivalent to preserving approximately 4,000 acres of tropical forest annually.

What is the timeline for deploying electric vehicles? ▼

The roadmap begins with a pilot of 500 electric motorcycles and 5 swapping stations in 2026–2027. By 2028–2029, that grows to 5,000 bikes, 100 cars, and 50 stations. By 2030, the goal is 50,000 electric motorcycles, 5,000 electric cars, and over 1,000 solar-integrated battery-swapping stations across DRC, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, and South Africa.

How does the rent-to-ride electric model work for riders? ▼

Riders pay a daily ride-own fee. The rental includes battery swaps and access to the BaraBara platform. After the payback period (12–18 months), gross margins improve to 70%.

Will battery-swapping stations be powered by renewable energy? ▼

Yes. BaraBara plans to integrate solar power at swapping stations wherever feasible. The CAPEX per station includes solar integration. This ensures that the electric fleet is truly low-carbon, not just shifting emissions from tailpipes to a diesel grid.

How does BaraBara protect biodiversity near cities and transport routes? ▼

Petrol motorcycles produce noise and air pollution that stress wildlife in parks such as Virunga National Park (DRC) and Nairobi National Park (Kenya). By replacing them with silent, zero-tailpipe-emission electric motorcycles, BaraBara reduces habitat disturbance and respiratory diseases caused by two-stroke engines. This aligns with Conservation goals.

What is the source of the carbon credits, and who verifies them? ▼

Carbon credits come from verified CO₂ emission reductions by replacing petrol motorcycles and cars with electric vehicles. BaraBara will register credits under international standards (e.g., Gold Standard or Verra) through a partnership with a carbon credit verifier.

Does BaraBara's EV plan support the Paris Agreement? ▼

Yes. DRC, Uganda, and Kenya have all submitted Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement that include transport electrification. BaraBara EV directly helps these governments meet their NDC targets by providing a scalable, private-sector-led model for decarbonising informal transport.

What happens to the old petrol motorcycles? ▼

BaraBara's primary model does not forcibly remove petrol bikes. Instead, it offers a superior economic alternative: rent-to-ride electric at a lower daily cost. As riders voluntarily switch, petrol bikes gradually leave the fleet. The company does not currently have a formal recycling programme but is open to partnerships for end-of-life battery and vehicle recycling.

How does BaraBara measure and report environmental impact? ▼

The platform tracks number of EVs deployed, kilometres driven on electricity versus petrol, estimated CO₂ saved, and number of battery swaps. This data is anonymised and can be shared with governments, green funds, and conservation groups. The company also reports on reduced noise pollution and improved air quality in partner cities.

How can a green investor participate in BaraBara EV? ▼

BaraBara Green investors can email: opportunity@barabara.net for inquiries on available opportunities.