As carsharing becomes more popular in Cyprus, so do the assumptions surrounding it. From safety and parking to who actually uses the service, public discussion often combines valid questions with common misconceptions.
Yet the fuller picture is more practical and measurable. Behind the discussion is a service built on strict controls, active monitoring and a clear focus on accountability. Let’s set the record straight.
Parking and public space
Myth 1: Drivers can park RideNow cars wherever they want without consequences.
Fact: Parking is not a free for all. RideNow has introduced more than 300 no parking zones following complaints and local feedback, while users who leave cars improperly parked can face fines or restrictions on access to the service.
Myth 2: RideNow leaves vehicles blocking roads or access points without responding.
Fact: The technical team handles 11 to 20 repositioning requests per day when vehicles are reported to be causing an obstruction and a photo is submitted through WhatsApp support. The response system is already part of daily operations.
Safety and driver behaviour
Myth 3: Most RideNow users are risky or irresponsible drivers.
Fact: The numbers show the opposite. With only 6 to 8 suspensions per month compared to 1,500 to 1,800 active daily users, suspended users represent just 0.3% to 0.5% of the active base.
Myth 4: RideNow ignores complaints about reckless driving unless there is an accident.
Fact: RideNow receives an average of 5 to 6 reports of dangerous driving per month from clients and external witnesses, and every confirmed case is investigated without waiting for an accident to happen.
Myth 5: Only public complaints reveal bad driving, so many unsafe users go unnoticed.
Fact: RideNow also uses telematics technology to monitor behaviour such as speeding, harsh cornering and improper handbrake use. This means unsafe driving can be detected even when there is no witness report.
Myth 6: Dangerous drivers on RideNow can keep using the service without consequences.
Fact: On average, 6 to 8 clients are suspended every month for dangerous driving. Suspensions usually last 2 to 4 weeks, while repeat offenders may face permanent account closure with no possibility of return.
Accountability and company priorities
Myth 7: Anyone can rent a RideNow car and let someone else drive it anonymously.
Fact: Rentals are linked to a verified account with identity and licence checks and around 25% of new rental requests are rejected as part of stricter screening. The person who books the car remains fully responsible for it throughout the rental.
Myth 8: RideNow prioritizes revenue over road safety.
Fact: The company still suspends unsafe users even though this means losing revenue. That decision is deliberate, especially when the aim is to protect a daily user base of around 1,500 to 1,800 active clients per day.
Who the service is for and what it changes
Myth 9: RideNow is only useful for tourists or foreigners.
Fact: While the service started strongly with foreign users, today its audience is broadly split between foreign nationals and locals. Carsharing in Cyprus is no longer niche, but part of a wider mobility mix.
Myth 10: Carsharing adds more cars to Cyprus’s roads instead of reducing congestion.
Fact: RideNow operates a fleet of around 800 vehicles, while Cyprus has roughly 840,000 vehicles in circulation, a ratio of about 1 RideNow car for every 1,000 private cars. Each shared car serves around 4 users per day, helping reduce the need for more privately owned vehicles occupying road and parking space.
Carsharing is still a relatively new concept in Cyprus, so public scrutiny is expected. But the facts point to a model that is closely monitored, built around clear rules and used responsibly by the vast majority of clients. As mobility needs evolve, carsharing is becoming a practical and increasingly relevant part of how people move around the island.
RideNow has been nominated in the SMEs category at the 18th IN Business Awards. Anyone who would like to support RideNow can vote until 10 May:
- Online: https://www.inbawards.com/vote/
- Via SMS: Send IB2 03 to 5533
- By phone: Call 90031702 and follow the instructions
The cost of voting via SMS is €1.02 per message, including VAT. The cost of voting by phone is €1.02 from a landline and €1.10 from a mobile phone, including VAT.
