Exploring the BlaBlaCar Public API

BlaBlaCar is a ride-sharing service that connects drivers traveling from one location to another with passengers looking to reach the same destination. The BlaBlaCar Public API allows developers to access and integrate information from the BlaBlaCar service into their own applications. In this blog post, we will explore the BlaBlaCar Public API documentation and provide examples of how to use the API in JavaScript.

API Overview

The BlaBlaCar Public API offers a wide range of functionalities, such as finding rides, reserving seats, and accessing passenger and driver information. The documentation provides detailed instructions on how to use the API endpoints, including the URL, query parameters, and request and response formats.

Authentication

All API requests require authentication by using an API token. To obtain the token, developers need to register their application with BlaBlaCar. Once the application is approved, the token can be obtained from the developer dashboard.

Base URL

The base URL for the BlaBlaCar Public API is https://public-api.blablacar.com/api/v3/.

Example API Calls in JavaScript

Now that we have an overview of the BlaBlaCar Public API, let's explore some of the available functionalities and how to use them in JavaScript.

Find Rides

Finding rides is one of the most common functionalities of the BlaBlaCar service. The API endpoint for finding rides is /rides. The following example shows how to find rides from Paris to Lyon on a specific date.

const axios = require('axios');

const baseURL = 'https://public-api.blablacar.com/api/v3';
const token = 'YOUR_API_TOKEN';

const params = {
    from_city_id: 'fr-idf_paris',
    to_city_id: 'fr-rho_lyon',
    date_local: '2022-11-01T00:00:00Z'
};

axios.get(`${baseURL}/rides`, {
    headers: { 'Authorization': `Bearer ${token}` },
    params: params
})
.then((response) => {
    console.log(response.data);
})
.catch((error) => {
    console.log(error);
});

Reserve Seat

Reserving a seat on a ride is another common functionality of the BlaBlaCar service. The API endpoint for reserving a seat is /bookings. The following example shows how to reserve a seat on a ride with the ID 1234abcd.

const axios = require('axios');

const baseURL = 'https://public-api.blablacar.com/api/v3';
const token = 'YOUR_API_TOKEN';

const data = {
    ride_id: '1234abcd',
    places: 1
};

axios.post(`${baseURL}/bookings`, data, {
    headers: { 'Authorization': `Bearer ${token}` }
})
.then((response) => {
    console.log(response.data);
})
.catch((error) => {
    console.log(error);
});

Access Passenger Information

Accessing passenger information is another useful functionality of the BlaBlaCar service. The API endpoint for accessing passenger information is /passenger. The following example shows how to access information for the authenticated passenger.

const axios = require('axios');

const baseURL = 'https://public-api.blablacar.com/api/v3';
const token = 'YOUR_API_TOKEN';

axios.get(`${baseURL}/passenger`, {
    headers: { 'Authorization': `Bearer ${token}` }
})
.then((response) => {
    console.log(response.data);
})
.catch((error) => {
    console.log(error);
});

Conclusion

The BlaBlaCar Public API provides developers access to a wide range of functionalities for the BlaBlaCar service. The API documentation is well-documented, providing detailed information on how to use the available endpoints. This blog post provided examples of how to use the API in JavaScript. With these examples, developers should be able to integrate BlaBlaCar functionality into their own applications.