Interactive Solution: Bike Link Process

Bike LinkProject: Interactive Solution

DSGN 397, Spring 2014 Grace Anderson, Nicole Rogers, Jason Tea

Interactive Solution: Bike Link Brief & Requirements

Brief - Biking in Bellingham

The city of Bellingham has established itself as a place for tourism and a community of green commuters. The city would like to push it’s initiative to increase the population of cyclists for locals and visitors alike. You are asked to propose a new system that will inform new cyclists of the area and increase the amount of bicycles traffic in Bellingham.

Business Goals

Increase biking in Bellingham for locals and tourists

Utilize the existing biking community in Bellingham

Create a collective resource to act as a hub for bikers in the area

User Goals

Find safe but challenging trails suitable for bikers of varying skill levels

Contribute and benefit from the rich biker community existing in Bellingham

Learn about avoiding personal obstacles: weather, fitness, knowledge

Interactive Solution: Bike Link Contextual Research

Biking in BellinghamBellingham city has an existing network of bicycles lanes include 65 miles of bike lanes, 68 miles of bike friendly trails, and 60 miles of planned lanes. The Bellingham Master Bicycle Plan details the cities continued mission to increase the network to connect neighborhoods, create low-stress routes, and improving bicycle facilities. http://www.cob.org/services/planning/transportation/bike-master-planning.aspx

Wayfinding and SignageThe existing wayfinding and signs on Bellingham bike-friendly trails is small, low-budget, and often confusing. There is generally little help for navigation while on route between beginning and end points, which can be disorienting and make people feel like they’re unsure of their direction. Some of the arrows on trails were hand drawn with chalk, making them feel hap-hazard or unfinished. Icons are inconsistently used and don’t properly convey information about the trail.

ConclusionBellingham is established as a bike community, but there is little to connect all the resources that both the city and community have to offer. A system to organize information about trails and bike lanes would allow more access to the information.

Interactive Solution: Bike Link Competitor Research

Everybodybike.comA Detailed bike resource but it is not set up in a user friendly way. They have the trails listed with no difficulty ratings or user feedback to help make a decision about where to ride which seems overwhelming to someone new to biking instead of inviting. The interface lacks an interesting brand identity

trails appThis app is a trail finder and offers GPS navigation. It includes things like the temperature/weather of the trail, the length, user ratings, when the sun will be setting, etc. The app offers easy to use features but doesn’t allow the user to meet up with other bikers looking for a riding partner.

Mount baker bike clubThis is a local biking club’s most recent flier. They list the upcoming events and show featured members of their community. This resource helps connect bikers and create a community interested in helping Bellingham grow as a biking hub. Their website does offer difficulty ratings on local trails but not in an easy to understand way.

Interactive Solution: Bike Link User Research - Online Survey

Target Audience

The online survey asked users about both their challenges for biking and their motivations. We found that users who bike a little currently but are interested in biking more regularly would be our best target audience because they probably already have access to equipment. Our results were based on closed and open-ended questions.

Interactive Solution: Bike Link User Research - Personal Interviews

Bellingham Biker Survey:

Question: Notes:

[Path A] This user doesn’t bike

[Path B] This user bikes

How many hours a week do you bike?

A. 0 - I don’t own a bike [Path A]

B. Less than 1 hour [Path B]

C. Less than 4 hours [Path B]

D. More than 4 hours [Path B]

Specific Time: (if given)

What is your main form of transportation?

A. Bus

B. Other public transportation

C. Personal Car

D. Company Car

What is holding you back from buying a bike or beginning to bike?

A. Money - The bike and equipment are too expensive

B. Fitness - I don’t feel confident in my biking capabil-

ities

C. Distance - Everything is too far from where I live

D. Knowledge - I wouldn’t know where to bike

E. Safety - I don’t like biking in traffic

F. Dislike - I hate biking

What is your most common motivation to go biking?

A. Commuting to work, general transportation

B. For exercise, cycling at the gym

C. Hobby, passion

D. Social, go with friends, community

How do you discover new paths or trails to bike on?

A. Books, maps, physical resources

B. Google maps, other navigation apps or websites

C. Bike specific digital navigation resources - apps, websites, forums

D. Word of mouth

E. Exploring on my bike

Follow-up: Is this method of discovery currently satisfying your needs and/or wants?

Where do you do the majority of your biking?

How has the Bellingham community affected your biking habits?

A. Increase in biking - positive

B. No change - neutral

C. Decrease in biking - negative

Follow-up: Can you be more specific or explain what about Bellingham has shaped this experience?

What Bellingham communities do you identify with?

A. WWU student - don’t live here year round

B. WWU student - live here year round

C. Bellingham local

Where do you go, in Bellingham, for your biking needs - repairs, equipment?

A. Bike Shop

Name: (if given)

B. Personal Garage - order parts

C. Craigslist, community second-hand

D. AS Outdoor Center or other community resource

E. Friends or personal relationships

Notes:

Personal Interviews

Interviews were conducted to really understand our key demographic. After conducting interviews, we determined our key demographic would be people who bike a small amount currently who we could motivate to bike more frequently. We interviewed both bikers and non-bikers. The survey split after determining the persons biking habits. Our results follow:

1. A 55% B 18% C 9% D 18%

2. A 27% B 9% C 45% D -- E 18%

3. A 9% B 18% C -- D -- E 27% F 9%

4. A 9% B 9% C 18% D 18% E 9%

5. A -- B -- C 9% D 27% E 9% F 9%

6. A 18% B 9%

7. A -- B 18% C 9%

8. A 9% B 18% C 18% D 9% E 18%

Interactive Solution: Bike Link User Research - Personas

Primary - Libby24, Bellinghamster

Environmental PR at Peoples Bank

Secondary - Mason32, Seattlite

International Marketing Manager at Expedia

Negative - Kai22, Western Senior

Studying at WWU from Marysville

Characteristics: outdoorsy takes yoga classes at a local studio weekly shops locally

Biking Habits:Tries to bike to work, but feels discouraged by traffic, after-dark biking and weather. Doesn’t like biking in the rain/doesn’t feel safe biking at night Looking to connect with other like-minded people in town (now that she’s out of school it’s harder to meet people)

Characteristics: vegantraining for his first triathlondog-lovergrows his own produce at local community gardenenvironmental activist loves to travel

Biking Habits:Enjoys taking the weekend to find mountain bike trails in the region.

Commutes on bike to work daily but mountain biking is his passion and hobby.

Has trouble connecting with bike communities as a tourist.

Wants to explore new areas by bike.

Characteristics: likes to huntNRA memberinterested in car mechanicsmember of a local shooting clubcurrently training his bird dog

Non-Biking Habits:Hates to “share the road” and will speed in order to pass bikers on the road.

Drives a Toyota truck everywhere.

Isn’t concerned about sustainability or saving gas.

Gear

street bike

helmet

lock

iPhone

laptop

Avg Bike Time per week:

~30 mins

Gear

mountain bike

street bike

helmet

lock

bike tools

tire pump

Android

tablet

desktop

Avg Bike Time per week:

~5 hours

Interactive Solution: Bike Link User Goals

Experience Goals

Product is easy to navigate and the mapping feature provides a clear route for navigation. The features are intuitive to use and customizing features allow for the user to save their frequently ridden or top rated routes.

End Goals

The user is more aware of the biking opportunities in Bellingham and feels more connected to the biking community in Whatcom county because of the different features offered in the application. The user feels more comfortable trying to bike around town and is motivated to bike more often because of the ease of the app.

Life Goals

The user increases the amount they are biking, both recreationally and for commuting. They reduce their carbon footprint by using a form of clean transportation and become a more active member in the community by conversing with others on the app.

Interactive Solution: Bike Link Scenarios

ONE [1]: It’s Libby’s New Year’s resolution to actually ride her bike to work at least 2-3 times a week. She needs to explore alternative routes for getting from point A to point B.

TWO [2]: Libby finally got that three day weekend. She wants to spend it finally doing some mountain biking with her pals. She wants to meet some new people to join her excursion.

THREE [3]: An angry Toyota driver just heckled Libby on her morning bike commute. She wants to report this bad experience on the bike trail. **this assumes that the user has not navigated away from the ride in progress screen

Loading/Login Link Find a ride from the everyone feed

Add friend as a link

Loading/Login Map

Search destination

Save as favorite

Select route Swipe to compare

Ride in progress Review

Star rating

Comment

Post to link feed

Interactive Solution: Bike Link Product Development - Define, Then Design

Define, Then Design

What is the product? A mobile app as a collective Bellingham bike resource containing information about the area, gear, and community.

What is its one, main purpose? Allow users to find routes on the road or trails in the mountains for biking.

What one problem or concern does it solve? Centralize the scattered Bellingham bike community so information is more accessible.

Who will use the product? Locals or new Bellingham residence who are interested in biking more frequently for commute or are beginning to bike recreationally.

Interactive Solution: Bike Link Product Development - Group Brainstorm

Our team worked together to begin planning the user flow of our biking application. We discussed possible features including a map, navigation, shopping, community, and favorite locations and routes.

Interactive Solution: Bike Link Product Development - High-Fidelity Sketches

Interactive Solution: Bike Link Product Development - High-Fidelity Wireframes

Interactive Solution: Bike Link Visual Research - Moodboard

Interactive Solution: Bike Link Visual Research - Moodboard

Interactive Solution: Bike Link Visual Design & Identity

R 198B 102G 40

R 216B 217G 217

R 52B 62G 85

R 25B 32G 46

R 252B 246G 228

Bike Link

Fonts:

Blanch CapsDin Regular

Word List:

Bike Connect Link Chain Community Friendly Cycling Fast Bellinghamster Trails Outdoorsy Local

Collective Resource Transportation Mapping WayFinding Transit Commuter Safety Orientated Active Simple Informative

Interactive Solution: Bike Link Visual Design & Prototype

Bike Link

Log in

Sign up with Facebook

Sign Up

example123@gmail.com

¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥

Bike Link

mapAT&T 11:56 AM

mapAT&T 11:56 AM

mapAT&T 11:56 AM

Current Location

York Street

10 Mins Heavy

Hit the Road Link Your Ride

Interactive Solution: Bike Link Visual Design & Prototype

N Garden St to Ellis St & York St

ConnectAT&T 11:56 AM

Ride

Go for it Next time

Alex M 31 2 pm

mapAT&T 11:56 AM

Link the ride

Time : 2 pm

COmment:

Next Right

Ellis St in 50 feet

mapAT&T 11:56 AM

mapAT&T 11:56 AM

Interactive Solution: Bike Link Visual Design & Prototype

ProfileAT&T 11:56 AM

27 miles 4 Badges 3 Links

Link

Mason took a bike ride with a new friend

Mason went on a new route to work

Mason wrote a review of the S. Bay Trail

Trail

Review

ProfileAT&T 11:56 AM

Mile Log Badges Links

ConnectAT&T 11:56 AM

Link

Nicole took a bike ride with Alex

They made a new link!

Jason went on a new route to work

He road an extra 2 miles!

Grace wrote a review of the S. Bay Trail

She gave it

Alex wants to meet up for a ride

He’ll be at State St and N Forest St at 2 pm

Route

Review

Everyone My Links

Ride

AT&T 11:56 AM

Whatcom Ed

map

Whatcom Educational Credit Union2.5 miles from here

Eddy Whatcom27 miles biked 4 Biker Badges

M, 29

mapAT&T 11:56 AM

Filter

Intensity (Smoothe to Rocky)

Car Traffic

Lengeth (Miles)

HIlls

Interactive Solution: Bike Link Usability Testing & Results

Usability Test https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=2E184322C820B284!966&authkey=!AOSNWFwimjsjEeM&ithint=video%2cmp4

Testing was conducted with paper prototypes with users who also consider themselves bike riders. During the testing phase of our product Bike Link logged users’ responses and discovered the following issues or points of confusion with the product. What follows is a brief description of the issue and Bike Link’s current solution:

Link icon is not easily identifiable, upon first look users’ do not know what it’s intended function is: The link icon is central to Bike Link’s identity, with some exploring the user will gain a better understanding of it’s function and no adjustment is needed. Monitoring required.

Alternate routes were not easily distinguishable from one another: When demonstrating multiple routes for the same destination, it would be helpful to differentiate the paths with separate colors. Update required.

Map icon wasn’t easily identifiable:Users do not immediately identify with the map icon, however, with only 1 use, most users were able to understand that the icon lead to the map page. At this stage, this is not a high priority issue and should be monitored moving forward. Monitoring required

Confusion on how to view badges:Only a select few users tested managed to find the badge section on the profile page. This particular function helps with the gamification of the application and adding additional hyperlinks or a static icon directly to its page would help emphasize it’s presence. Further testing is required.

Difficulty understanding how to set destination/place bookmark/ drop pin on map: This particular test type was difficult to pinpoint the users exact point in which the user experience broke down, as users’ of smartphones have general experience with mapping applications it can be assumed that their expectations far exceed the limitations of paper prototyping. At this stage, this issue is medium priority, and further testing is needed to confirm a valid solution. Further testing is required.

Start and finish icon were identified as being “too similar”: The difference between the starting location of a trip and the ending location is subtle but not indistinguishable, users were able to identify them but required a minute to recognize which was which. This leads us to believe that users with very little time logged in usage will easily overcome this issue and no update will be required. Monitoring required.

Difficulty understanding swiping between pages to compare route options: Demonstrating the swipe feature was poorly designed during the testing stage and at this point unclear whether the user would find difficulty with its function during multiple route comparisons, or on other pages with this feature. Further testing is required.

User doesn’t understand what his friends can/can’t see on his profile or what is shown to others when trying to “link up”: The design of the user profile lead almost all users to some form of confusion. Redesign and further testing required.

Interactive Solution: Bike Link Process

Fin