Spoke connects you with cyclists you haven't met before. A few simple habits go a long way.
Pick a well-lit, public starting point for a first ride -- a coffee shop, trailhead, or bike shop parking lot rather than someone's home.
If you can, schedule your first ride with a new rider during daylight hours on a route you already know.
Let a friend or family member know who you're meeting, where, and roughly when you expect to be back.
Be cautious if a new connection quickly pushes to text, call, or message on another app before you've actually met -- it's one of the most common patterns behind both scams and unwanted contact.
Spoke never asks riders to pay each other directly. Don't send money, gift cards, or crypto to another rider, no matter the story.
If someone makes you uncomfortable, block them. Blocking is free for every rider and it's mutual -- they won't see you either.
Use the report button on a rider's profile or on a chat message any time something feels wrong, even if you're not sure it rises to a big deal. Reports go straight to Spoke's safety team and are never shown to the person you reported.
In an emergency, contact local emergency services directly -- don't wait on a report to Spoke.