janpio/hitchrider

HitchRider is a tool that helps hitchhikers and drivers find each other. It lives inside Telegram, you just open a chat with the bot, hit start, and you get a mini app right there in the messaging interface. Drivers can post rides they're offering, and hitchhikers can browse those rides or post requests for where they need to go. The core flow is straightforward. A driver announces a ride with details like where they're going, what time, how many seats are free, and whether there's a cost. Hitchhikers can see all the listed rides and requests, look at details for specific ones, and connect with the driver. The app also supports payments through TON, which is a blockchain-based payment system, so riders can pay for rides directly through the wallet they connect to the app. This would appeal to the hitchhiking community, people who regularly catch informal rides rather than taking buses or trains, and drivers willing to offer a seat in their car. Think of someone trying to get between cities cheaply, or a driver with empty seats who wouldn't mind some company and maybe gas money. It's especially aimed at communities already comfortable with Telegram, which is popular in many parts of the world where hitchhiking is common. The project is still in its early stages. The current version covers the basics, posting rides, requesting rides, browsing listings, and handling payments. But the roadmap shows plans for practical improvements like filtering by location or time, saved favorite spots, recurring trips, driver and passenger ratings, and automatic ride matching. The README notes a planned technical shift away from server-side rendering toward a simpler setup, which suggests the team found their initial framework choice more complex than needed for what is essentially a lightweight front-end app.