As cycling becomes increasingly important in sustainable mobility policies, there is also an urge for new digital applications and services for urban cycling. This new generation of cycling applications should be able to connect cyclists with their local cycling ecosystem, promote cycling, and empower cyclists to become active agents of urban mobility. In this work, we aim to explore the new opportunity space of digital tools and applications designed specifically for urban cycling. We pursue this goal by trying to uncover current practices associated with digital tools that are already available and also by trying to uncover new information needs, even those that cyclists are not yet able to fully express. To explore these topics, we conducted 2 focus group sessions and 10 interviews with cyclists. The result is a set of design opportunities for the development of new applications, tools and methods for improving the cycling experience in the context of urban mobility. We expect this contribution might help to better define the design space of innovative digital tools for urban cyclists.
For many riders, the motorcycle is much more than a transportation mode. Riding a motorcycle can be a pleasurable experience in itself, and the motorcycle is frequently a tool of socialization. An evidence for that can be found in the numerous motorcycling communities around the world. However, those communities may not be accessible to everyone, or they may not satisfy everyone. We believe that a social application for motorcyclists could reach more riders and has the potential of more easily fitting their needs. To explore this idea, we conducted focus groups with motorcyclists, exploring their current practices in digital tools as well as their needs and desires that could possibly be integrated in a social application. The results hinted on several aspects that need to be considered in the design of a social application for motorcyclists. Generally, motorcyclists are willing to receive and share information with others, and referred several needs in terms of communication and trip planning. However, they also showed concerns regarding a digital tool associated with riding, both for safety reasons and because it could disrupt the riding experience. We conclude that not only the needs but also the concerns must be considered in the design of this new digital tool.
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