Frequently Asked Questions
Please click on a question to open the answer.
A1: If not already invited by South Florida Commuter Services, please click on USF Carpool Study Agreement to Participate for more detailed information and to sign up to participate in the study.
A2: If your request to participate is accepted, you will then receive an email from mark@rideflag.com of RideFlag, with the subject heading, “USF Carpool Study”, which will contain a link to a beta version of the RideFlag app found on TestFlight for iOS phones or on App Tester for Android phones.
A3: The pilot is being conducted now and your participation in the pilot will start as soon as you download the app and log your first carpool trip. Your test of the app will end after you have completed 12 trips or after 30 days from your start date, whichever comes first.
A4: Instructions for downloading the app will be emailed to you after we have received your completed Agreement to Participate and it is approved.
A5: Please see the Table of Compensation for Study Participants. Participation in the USF Carpool Study does not award free access to the I-95 Express Lanes. Participants must continue to abide by all rules of the I-95 Express Lanes.

A6: Part of your carpool trip must occur on I-95 in South Florida, on any portion of the Interstate between Dolphin Expressway (SR 836) in downtown Miami and Exit 87 in Jupiter.
A7: No, you just need to be on the I-95.
A8: For purposes of testing the RideFlag app, the carpool trip will end. You will be asked to submit verification photos and prompted to click on “End Trip”. It will be logged as a completed carpool trip. When you are ready to re-enter I-95, treat it as a second carpool trip and click on “Verify HOV.” You may log up to four (4) carpool trips per day.
A9: Just two (2) people are required in the vehicle on HOV lanes north of Glades Road. Three (3) people ages 16 and older are required for toll-free access if you are traveling on I-95 Express Lanes (and you must already be registered with South Florida Commuter Services. Participation in the USF Carpool Study does not award free access to the I-95 Express Lanes. Participants must continue to abide by all rules of the I-95 Express Lanes if they choose to use them.
A10: You verify always before beginning your trip, whether you’re parked in a parking lot, garage, or on a driveway.
A11: You are able to verify with the infant and other occupants prior to entering the vehicle (i.e., in your house, on the driveway, etc.)
A12: After verifying, the app will return to the home screen where you will see a number at the top right. This number represents the occupants that were verified.
A13: Participants can check their logged carpool trips by clicking the menu icon at the top left corner of the app’s home screen and then clicking on Trip History.
A14: Yes, the app must remain open during the duration of the trip, but it can be open in the background so that you can listen to music, take phone calls, use navigation, or anything else you may wish to do that is safe while driving.
A15: The app must remain open during the carpool trip. The app can run in the background; however, it cannot completely close. If the app is not running in the background, participants will miss out on a potential trip that would go towards the e-gift card incentive. Buttons are disabled while the vehicle is in motion to discourage distracted driving. If a passenger wishes to use the app while the vehicle is in motion, they can select the “I’m a passenger” button and interact with the menu located in the top left-hand side of the screen.
A16: As long as your phone connects to a network at the end of your trip, the trip data will be sent to our server and processed accordingly.
A17: The app will remind you to end the trip after the vehicle has stopped moving. A notification will appear on your screen, “Are you still carpooling?” if no motion is detected in 15 minutes.
If you do not respond, the app will automatically end the trip after 2 hours of inactivity. If a trip automatically ends after 2 hours of being closed, the user will not receive credit for their carpool trip.
A18: You will be invited to complete a short exit survey. You will be compensated with an Amazon e-gift coupon of $5.00 value.
A19: You will see all your logged carpool trips up to 12 maximum for e-gift card credit in “Trip History.” Click on the menu icon at the top left corner of the app’s home screen or contact us at support@rideflag.com.
A20: Yes, the app casts a white veil onto occupants in dark lighting conditions to aid in verification.
A21: Yes, the app can verify occupants wearing face masks as well as sunglasses.
A22: We are happy to answer any question(s) you may have. You can either click on the menu icon at the top left corner of the app’s home screen or send an email to support@rideflag.com.
A23: Click on the menu icon at the top left corner of the app’s home screen or contact us at support@rideflag.com.