Overview
As of Spring 2026, riders and drivers can see each other's real-time location on a map before and during a trip. This reduces missed pickups and gives riders more confidence that their vehicle is on the way.
When enabled, the Rider App displays a live map showing the driver's position as they approach. Simultaneously, drivers can see the rider's pinned location to confirm they're arriving at the right spot.
💡 Note: This feature is available to all customers with access to the Demand Response product package. Talk to your Spare rep to learn more.
How it works
Once enabled, location sharing activates automatically for eligible trips — no action is required from dispatchers or booking agents on a per-trip basis.
What riders see: A live map in the Rider App showing the driver's vehicle moving toward them, along with an estimated arrival time.
What drivers see: The rider's pinned location on the map in the Driver App, helping confirm the correct pickup point — particularly useful for large buildings, transit hubs, or ambiguous addresses. Drivers will only see the rider's location once they have reached the pickup spot, to avoid any distractions while driving.
Privacy and rider control
Riders can disable location sharing from within the Rider App at any time. This is a permanent setting — it remains off until the rider either reinstalls the app or manually re-enables it in their app settings.
⚠️ Important: If a rider has location sharing turned off, their location will not be visible to the driver. Drivers should follow standard no-show procedures if they cannot locate a rider at the designated pickup point.
Frequently asked questions
Is location sharing on by default for riders?
Location sharing is on by default in the Rider App once your organization enables the feature. Riders can choose to turn it off at any time in their app settings.
What happens if a rider disables location sharing mid-trip?
If a rider turns off location sharing, their location is immediately hidden from the driver. The setting remains off until the rider manually re-enables it or reinstalls the app.
Can dispatchers see rider locations?
No. This feature is specific to the rider-driver interaction. Dispatchers can monitor vehicle locations through the Live Map, but will not be able to see rider locations.