How the escrow works
When you place an order, Stripe authorizes the full charge on your card at checkout but does not capture it — the funds are held by your card issuer, not yet collected. Your order is created and dispatched to a courier while the payment sits in this authorized state.
When the courier confirms delivery — the verification photo and physical receipt are uploaded and the order flips to Delivered — the platform captures the authorized PaymentIntent, pulling the held funds into the platform balance, and immediately transfers each courier's share (base pay + equal tip split) via Stripe Connect with an instant payout to their debit card.
If you cancel before delivery, the authorization is released — the hold drops off your card with no charge and no refund needed. If an already-captured order is reversed, a refund is issued instead.
A reconcile function audits every capture and refund: it lists each PaymentIntent's capture status and flags delivered orders whose funds are still only authorized (should be captured), cancelled orders with stale authorizations (should be released), and captured orders whose couriers haven't been paid yet — so nothing is left hanging in escrow.
How the site works now
Buyers browse restaurants within a 1.5-mile delivery zone, build a cart, and check out through Stripe Elements. Payment is authorized (held) at checkout and the order enters the queue.
Couriers go online, accept jobs from the queue, and run a guided flow: arrive at the restaurant, the primary rider swipes a one-time proxy card to purchase the food fresh, snap a verification photo, ride to the drop-off, and upload the receipt. Multi-courier teams are dispatched for high-volume orders, with all riders checking in before the order unlocks.
On delivery confirmation, escrow releases: the held charge is captured and each rider is paid instantly to their connected Stripe account. Earnings that can't be paid instantly (Connect not ready) sit as available in the courier's wallet until they cash out.
How Pedal To Plate Works
Bike- and scooter-based food delivery built around a single flat fee. From the moment you place an order to the moment it lands at your door, here is exactly what happens.
Pick your location
Pedal To Plate serves six neighborhoods, each with its own tight 1.5-mile delivery zone. Choose your zone from the links on the home page and we show you only the restaurants close enough to arrive hot.
Browse & build your cart
Every restaurant inside your 1.5-mile radius is listed and filterable by cuisine. Add items to your cart from one or many spots — the delivery fee never changes.
$18.99 flat fee — always
One flat delivery fee per order. No surge pricing, no distance math, no hidden service charges. Whether your food totals $9.99 or $199.99 (orders over $199 will require two delivery people because of volume in some cases for a $39.98 fee plus $10), the delivery fee is $18.99.
Checkout (escrow hold)
Pay through Stripe. Your card is authorized — the funds are held by your bank in escrow — but not yet collected. The order is created and dispatched while the payment sits in this authorized state.
Dispatched to a courier
Your order enters the live queue and is offered to nearby delivery personnel. A rider accepts, goes to the restaurant, and pays for your food fresh with a one-time proxy card.
Verification & delivery
The courier snaps a pickup photo, rides to your drop-off, and uploads the receipt. On delivery confirmation the held charge is captured and the courier is paid instantly to their connected Stripe account.
Cancel anytime before delivery
Cancel before the food is delivered and the authorization is simply released — the hold drops off your card with no charge and no refund needed.
New Delivery Personnel
Your pay — guaranteed
- •$12.99 per delivery, per location, per order — guaranteed even when the order subtotal is below $12.99. Pedal To Plate charges the customer a flat $18.99 fee on every order, so your $12.99 is locked in regardless of the food total.
- •100% of your tips are yours. Tips are never touched, never split with the platform, and paid out with your delivery earnings.
Very large orders — team delivery
- •For very large orders, two to three delivery personnel are dispatched and meet at the restaurant.
- •The order cannot be started until all riders arrive. The first rider on location pays for the order.
- •On delivery, pay and tips are divided equally among the team, a $10 team logistics fee goes to the company, and each delivery person receives $12.99 for the completed order.
Ready to ride? Tap Delivery Personnel above to sign up or log in.
