Inspiration
As second-years, we’ve seen how tough it can be for students—especially first-years—to find transportation home. Not everyone has a car, and existing options can be expensive or inconvenient. So, we built WahooWheels to connect UVA students for carpooling, making rides more accessible, affordable, and eco-friendly.
What it does
Users can offer rides by listing their trip details, while others can search for available rides that match their needs. If a match is found, they can connect with the driver to coordinate the trip. Simple, student-friendly, and built to help the UVA community.
How we built it
- Backend: Django (for handling user authentication, ride listings, and security).
- Frontend: Node.js and Bootstrap (for a clean, responsive interface).
- Map Integration: Mapbox (for geolocation and route visualization).
- Security: JWT-based authentication with school email restriction to ensure only UVA students can join.
Challenges we ran into
- Debugging. So. Much. Debugging.
- Time constraints—especially researching and integrating Mapbox.
- Making sure login security worked correctly while keeping it easy to use.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
- A working, deployable site that can actually help UVA students.
- Built-in ride matching to make finding a ride as easy as possible.
- Community-building: This app isn’t just about transportation; it’s about students helping students, saving money, and reducing pollution.
What we learned
- JavaScript is pain. Django is better.
- Map APIs are not as simple as they seem.
- Hackathons really push you to learn fast.
What's next for WahooWheels
- Full deployment so UVA students can actually use it.
- AI-powered ride recommendations based on past trips.
- Midway stop detection (Graph-based approach for smarter route planning).
- Upcoming rides featured on the main page for easier access.
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