Project | Limestone Bike City

This project was conducted during my Post-graduate program in UXD at St Lawrence College in Kingston, Canada.

Client
Limestone City Bike
Project Type
Research
Date
11.1.21
Duration
6 weeks
Based In
Kingston, Canada
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The Challenge

Limestone City Bike Share operates as a bike-sharing initiative, catering to individuals without bicycles, including tourists and pedestrians. The company recognizes the need for a user-friendly website that effectively highlights pricing options, pickup/drop-off locations, and a comprehensive system map. This digital platform plays a crucial role in providing essential information to potential users, ensuring a seamless and convenient experience for those exploring the city on shared bicycles.

Project Goals

The objective is to increase bike-sharing usage, reducing pollution and greenhouse gases, while providing an eco-friendly transportation option for tourists. Additionally, the aim is to enhance Kingston's economy and promote healthier living in the community. To achieve this, a user-friendly website will be developed, facilitating easy bike rentals and access to pick-up/drop-off points for a smooth biking experience in Kingston.

  1. Boost Bike-Sharing: Increase bike-sharing usage to cut pollution and greenhouse gases, offering an eco-friendly option for tourists.
  2. Stimulate Economy: Enhance Kingston's economy by promoting bike-sharing, potentially benefiting tourism and local businesses.
  3. Encourage Healthy Living: Advocate for healthier lifestyles by promoting biking as a daily transportation choice.
  4. User-Friendly Website: Develop a streamlined website for easy bike rentals and access to pick-up/drop-off points, ensuring a seamless biking experience in Kingston.

Scope of work and timeline

Project Timeline
  • Week 1: Discover - Conduct research and gather project requirements. Identify key stakeholders and their expectations.
  • Week 2: Define - Define project scope and objectives. Develop a detailed project plan. Confirm project timelines and deliverables.
  • Week 3: Ideate - Generate creative ideas and potential solutions.
  • Week 4: Design - Create detailed project design. Develop prototypes or mockups.
  • Week 5 and 6: Testing - Implement testing procedures. Identify and address any issues or bugs. Conduct user acceptance testing.

User personas

The decision to identify two personas, visitors and future residents, in the bike-sharing project acknowledges their distinct needs. This strategic approach tailors the system to diverse user requirements, accommodating varied usage patterns for short-term recreation and long-term commuting. This ensures alignment with environmental goals, supports economic prospects through tourist attraction, and encourages healthier living, addressing both short-term and long-term objectives for Kingston.


Persona n°1

Persona n°2

Secondary Research

Competitive Analysis

I conducted a comprehensive competitive analysis as part of my secondary research, focusing on various bike rental companies. The companies under examination include Bike Share Toronto, i-Cycle situated at Fort Henry in Kingston, Ahoy Rentals in Kingston, and Hamilton Bike Share.

Competitive Analysis
Bike Rental Company Strengths Weaknesses Website Highlights Similarities
Bike Share Toronto - Has over 625 stations around the Toronto area.
- users can use the app to find the nearest station.
- Integration with public transportation.
- Users can scan a QR to start their ride
- Potential high demand leading to occasional unavailability
- Users can only rent bikes through the app, if wifi is not available they won't be able to rent them.
- Well-designed website.
- Intuitive interface.
- Mobile app integration for seamless user experience.
- Eco-friendly transportation.
- Mobile app or online platform use.
- Seasonal demand fluctuations
- Opportunities for partnerships.
i-Cycle (Kingston) - Users can rent and buy electric bikes.
- Users need to take a mandatory preparation before riding electric bikes.
- Potential collaborations with local attractions.
- Users cannot buy or rent a bike through their website, they have to call or email them.
- Seasonal demand fluctuations.
- May lack advanced technology features compared to larger urban systems.
- Informative website catering to tourists and locals.
- Potential for showcasing partnerships with local attractions.
- Eco-friendly transportation.
-Seasonal demand fluctuations.
- Opportunities for partnerships with local businesses or attractions.
Ahoy Rentals (Kingston) - Prices are accessible depending on the user's budget.
- Flexibility in rental durations.
- Diverse bike options (e.g., cruiser bikes, tandems).
- Website is hard to navigate, lack of interaction and unnecesary information.
- May lack the scale for extensive promotional campaigns.
- Limited coverage area.
- Clear information on available bike types, rates, and rental processes. - Eco-friendly transportation.
-Limited online reservation capabilities.
- Localized promotions or events.
Hamilton Bike Share - Integrated payment options.
- Users pay per minute, monthly or seasonal.
- Users need a 6 digit number or membership card to unlock a bike. is convenient for people who doesn't have data.
- Their log-in section does not follow Hamilton's visual design.
- Users are forced to select a plan before creating an account.
- The overall website has consistency and structure - Eco-friendly transportation
- Limited online reservation capabilities
- Localized promotions or events

Primary Research

Card Sorting

For this project a closed card sorting was conducted considering the most 6 common categories from the competitor (About, pricing, activities, help, how does it work?, Map).

Optimal workshop was used for this project and 7 participants completed the card sorting.

Conclusions

The majority of the obtained results were positive. Nonetheless, users encountered challenges when categorizing 'Memberships and Rentals.' Consequently, the decision was made to eliminate the 'Rental' label, incorporating it within the 'How does it work' page. Additionally, some users incorrectly placed the 'Memberships' label within the 'How does it work?' section. To address this, it will be repositioned as a subcategory within the Pricing section for clearer navigation.

Tree Jack Test

3 tasks were conducted during the Tree Jacking. 7 people completed this test.


Conclusions

Individuals demonstrated a high level of comprehension for each task, surpassing the clarity observed in the card sorting activity. Numerous successes, both direct and indirect, were recorded. It's worth noting that some users might not have thoroughly read the tasks, leading to variations in their responses. The conclusive labels were determined based on the insights gathered during the Tree Jack analysis, providing a robust foundation for the final decision-making process.


Information Architecture

Wireframes

Prototype

Usability Testing

To validate the workflow and prototype, I organized a usability testing session involving five participants. The key tasks assigned to the participants were as follows:

  1. Visit and skim the Limestone City Bike website:
    Participants were instructed to explore the website, gaining an overview of its content and structure.
  2. Check the types of bicycles and memberships available:
    Participants were asked to locate and examine the variety of bicycles and memberships offered on the website.
  3. Select the membership you desire and add it to the cart:
    Participants were directed to choose a membership option and add it to their virtual shopping cart.
  4. Go to the checkout and follow the steps as if placing an order:
    Participants were tasked with navigating to the checkout section and proceeding through the steps as if they were making a purchase.

By observing participants' interactions with these key tasks, valuable insights were gathered to assess the effectiveness and user-friendliness of the website's workflow and prototype.

Design System

Typography

I selected the Muli typography for this project because it offers a clean and friendly aesthetic, aligning well with the project's objectives. Muli is a versatile font known for its readability, making it an ideal choice for ensuring that content is easily accessible to users. Its ready and approachable design contributes to a positive user experience, promoting clarity and visual appeal throughout the project.

Colors

I opted for earthy colors to represent nature, sustainability, and bikes in this project. Earthy tones evoke a sense of harmony with the natural environment, aligning with the project's focus on eco-friendliness and outdoor elements. By incorporating these colors, I aim to convey a connection to the earth, emphasizing the project's commitment to sustainability and the use of bikes as an environmentally conscious mode of transportation.

Icons

I chose rounded iconography for this project with the intention of imparting a sense of movement while maintaining a friendly aesthetic. The rounded shapes create a dynamic and fluid visual language, symbolizing the project's emphasis on motion, energy, and a welcoming atmosphere. This design choice aims to evoke a friendly and approachable feel, enhancing the overall user experience by visually communicating the project's values of movement and amicability.