Solving infrastructure and safety issues for bicyclist
We designed and prototyped a bike-tracking app aimed at enhancing the cycling experience for users foucing on route planning as well as a streamlined process for reporting issues encountered on cycling paths.
THE PROBLEM & SCOPE
Cyclists are facing safety issues and frustration due to poorly maintained bike paths and a lack of easy ways to report problems. The communication between cyclists and local authorities is unclear, which leads to delays in fixing issues. This makes it harder for cyclists to feel safe and supported, and it discourages them from reporting problems regularly.
In this project, we designed and developed a bike-tracking app aimed at enhancing the cycling experience for users. The app includes key features such as route planning for commuting, exercise, and leisure rides, as well as a streamlined process for reporting issues encountered on cycling paths.
"A 60-year-old man passed away after crashing into a concrete barrier while cycling. The barrier was placed in a dark pedestrian and bike tunnel.”
We based the project on local issues that yet are universal and can have a massive impact on communities.
Methodology
Design thinking
For the project it was essential to lean heavily into the empathize stage as usability is very driven how users interact with the app.
We threw a wide net doing user interviews, literature analysis, exploring potential competition, holding surveys and actually riding bikes and reporting potholes through the current channels.
Empathize
During this stage we focused on gaining deep insight into what the users truly need.
For the project it was essential to lean heavily into the empathize stage as usability is very driven how users interact with the app.
We threw a wide net doing user interviews, literature analysis, exploring potential competition, holding surveys and actually riding bikes and reporting potholes through the current channels.
Literature analysis
I found some interesting material in white papers, scientific journals and industry reports on bicycle infrastructure and citizen engagements in public works.
For the most part they give us insight to the problem, and even if we can’t solve the political issues, we can at least provide solutions that can inform better decisions.
In general, none of the bicycle apps we analysed have reporting function, apart from an internal function in Komoot that notifies other users. We are also looking at how it is to report in to a typical municipality in Norway.
As a test we reported broken surface on a section on a bike path to the local municipality.
- It takes three steps to reach it.
- It isn’t mobile friendly.
- There’s no indication that a location is under the municipal purview.
We received 80 responses to our survey, which featured 16 questions focused on users’ biking habits.
The survey explored whether cyclists had encountered damaged bike paths, and if so, whether they reported these issues.
User interviews
We conducted 3 interviews and sent several e-mails with questions to different authorities to gain some more insights.
To maintain a good conversation flow I didn’t follow the script too rigidly and we wanted to to explore the concepts freely. Opening about their background and leading into their bike app usage and seeing what painpoints they had.