Category: team 1 (16/17)

Second log entry: User interview schedule – Cycling Group

To improve our understanding of what users of our product will want, we have arranged an interview on Wednesday 26th with Tim Parsons. We know little information about Tim apart from that he is a cyclist in the Newcastle area. Interviewing him will provide us with first hand data about cycling habits around Newcastle and what tools and devices will appeal to that community.

Please find below a brief interview schedule:

Introducing ourselves:

Thank you for arranging to meet up with us. We are second year students at Newcastle University and we are currently collaborating with Robert Snowball who is a senior transport planner at Newcastle City Council. Our aim is to make cycle routes around the city more accessible and well known, as well as attempting to increase the popularity of cycling with help from the council.

  1. What is your preferred method of travelling around the city on a day by day basis?

– Why is this your preferred method?

– Why do you not choose to travel by other means (e.g. car, walk, bus, cycle)

  1. Is the transport infrastructure in the city adequate for this method of travel?

– Do you think that other methods of travel are better provided for within the city?

– How do you think the council could improve existing travel infrastructure?

  1. How would you describe your position as a cyclist in Newcastle?

– Do you feel like your needs (either as a single cyclist or as part of a community) are met by the council?

  1. Can you describe the ways in which technology helps your everyday life?

– Is technology involved in your commute or travel?

– Do you use mobile technology to aid you this way?

  1. Do you frequently use any mobile apps? If so, why those specifically?

– Would you/have you used apps to improve your cycling mobility in particular?

  1. There are already apps that cyclists can use, could you detail any that you use, if at all?

– Why do you prefer these apps to other apps that you have mentioned? (e.g. are they simpler to understand? More accessible?)

  1. When looking at the design and functionality of a map, what would you say is most important to focus on?

– How do you use maps when cycling? (e.g. Planning ahead? Whilst on route?)

– What would you suggest to simplify reading maps and using apps for cyclists?

  1. In your opinion, what would encourage more engagement with cycling?

– Should there be more incentives for the cycling demographic?

– How about incentives from apps, the council and community groups?

  1. Should there be more improvements to current apps offered to cyclists? If so, could you suggest any?

– What stops people from using apps? Why is this?

  1. From the cyclists you know, would apps be their preferred choice of route planning and engagement?

– Why is this the case? Is this because the app itself is difficult to use? Are there issues with the way a cyclist can use a phone whilst out?

First log entry: Connecting cyclists and transport planners

Hi, this is our first design log entry for the module by Alistair, Derek, Jake, James and Rachel. Only our second week into the course and we’ve already met the client in a workshop as well as set goals for the remainder of the project. By doing this, we’ve also come up with a few questions that we hope will be answered in the coming weeks!

GOALS

  • To increase the amount of cyclists in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. This is because cycling is seen as a renewable, cost-effective transportation method that does not consume energy and promotes a healthy, active lifestyle.
  • Making cycle routes more known, accessible and easy to navigate. In particular, routes between the city centre and surrounding residential areas as well as potentially linking neighbouring local authorities to the scheme in the future e.g. County Durham and Northumberland.
  • Producing a compact, interactive, integrated and easy to understand app that is accessible for a variety of users. Anyone should be able to use and operate our app regardless of their age, educational background or geographical area, for example.
  • Another benefit of this app is that it provides Newcastle City Council with new data about cyclists and their main routes that they have never had before. For instance, where are they coming from? Who are they? What is their cultural and social background? How long will they be traveling? What is their purpose (e.g. are they a part of a club, student, or commuting)?
  • It will enable city and transport planners to accommodate for high volume areas of cyclists and will enable them to understand and offer more cycle friendly facilities. These include bike lock/rack locations in Newcastle City Council and suggest where these installations can go. In doing so, it will also address problem areas that cyclists feel need solving.
  • It will improve the routes to make them more cycle friendly e.g. smoother road surfaces, an increasing knowledge of cycle paths around the city and wider regions, wider and safer cycle pathways.
  • To consider incentives that increase the amount of people that cycle and for longer. This needs to be done through interactive modes such as easy-to-read maps, user-shared routes and live traffic updates as well as business integration.
  • Secondary data has already been collected by organisations such as Newcastle City Council as well as key user groups such as Sustrans. Our app will hopefully provide the means to further develop the relationships with planners, developers and cyclists to create a balanced city.

cyclists in newcastle

QUESTIONS

Who: Cyclists of all ages. From families, school children, students, commuters and the elderly.
• Will an app be accessible/appealing to all age groups?
• Our main concern is the elderly age bracket. How can we reach out and involve this audience to this social community?
• Would additional physical resources be more engaging for the elderly or those that do not have access to digital means?

What: An app that creates an online community of cyclists who engage with each other to improve their routes and environment.
• How do we successfully promote the app to create this community? (Engage with local social clubs? Online forums? Physical posters/leaflets? Conduct focus groups?)
• Will this be easy to maintain and will the idea catch on? (Do we need a points system? Prizes e.g. sustained cycling = rewards at local businesses, discounts with retail brands)

Where: To begin, in the Newcastle City Council region.
• Could this develop and expand to engage neighbouring authorities?
• If the idea gains significant interest, would it be credible to work nationwide? Worldwide? Would it be easier to engage by using countries such as Denmark and Holland as examples where cycling is more integrated into normal life? Can we learn from these places to gain more cycling activity data and improve our town planning capabilities?
• Locally, how valid will individual data inputs from users be? Can this be monitored?

Why: To promote a healthy lifestyle whilst also promoting sustainable transport.
• Does everyone have a bike? Or know how to ride one? Can we promote bike hire companies on the app?
• Will the app actually produce the desired effect?