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Pitch Video

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Mid-Fidelity

Based on the knowledge gained from evaluating our concept with actual users, we made some improvements to our concept in response to their reactions that we hoped would make a difference in the following test.

We made the light signals more prominent, so we are sure they capture cyclist attention and we are focusing more on the evening period when there is no daylight and more accidents are prone to happen. As we learned from our previous test people were less prone to react to the visual sings through the day due to the lights being less visible.

The new main interactive element we want to introduce is a speed measure sign that measures the speed with which the bike rider is going and gives him a really short sentenced advice on how to proceed. The sign will also measure the number of riders that have passed through. It will be located at two spots, one at the beginning of the bike lane and another at the end.

We also learned that sound is not the best option since most of the riders have earplugs or headphones on, making it nearly impossible for them to hear and respond to the sounds we are transmitting. In conclusion to that we eliminated the sounds aspect from our prototype.

After the changes were implemented we conducted the next test phase. The place was again the Valkenberg park and we focused on the exact same designated route that we previously picked in order for the test to be of equal chance and for the difference between the tests to be valid for comparison. The tested location remains the same - the designated route we picked in the Valkenberg park.

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Another improvement point was that we realised we should make the light signals more outstanding and visible.

Thus, we created our mid-fidelity prototype.

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User evaluation

To test our low-fidelity prototype with real users, we went back to the Valkenberg park and tried different combinations of signals to see which were the most effective ones. We did this on our own time and tested two different periods of the day - morning and evening. We noted people’s reactions to our tests and drew some valuable inputs from them.

Prototype test 1 (Sound + Light)

Date: 08.11.2018 Location: Valkenberg Park, Breda

Sound signal type: None ( only speed sign :) / :(  )

Tester name: Polly and Dimitar

Morning test (09:00 – 11:00) Actual time of test: 10:45

18# total cyclists that enter the park

12# that payed attention to the signals

6# that ignored the signals completely

Findings: 

In the morning when we set up the location, the total number of the cyclists that entered the park was 18. As it is written above, only 12 of them actually paid attention to our interactive implementation. The other 6 saw the signals, but decided to take the usual path as they completely ignored our interactive element. However, the people that saw the so called invention had many different reactions ranging from being surprised through being confused and up to actually being entertained and finding the interactive element funny and helpful.

Team members at the location: Polly and Dimitar

Afternoon test (14:00 – 16:00) Actual time of test: 14:30

24# total cyclists that enter the park

20# that payed attention to the signals

4# that ignored the signals completely

Findings: 

In the afternoon in total there were more cyclists that entered the park. In total there were 24. 20 of them noticed our interactive element and the other 4 did not really paid attention to our set up. Same as the morning session, some people were surprised about what they had seen. We found that some people did not really get what was happening as again they found it confusing. Other said that it is interesting and that they are finding it useful in order to divide cyclists from pedestrians. The people who paid attention said that they really liked the cheering sound element and that they find it entertaining. In general, our findings are that the interactive element is useful and it helps with traffic.

Team members at the location: Polly and Dimitar

Interviews conducted by Jim and Hristo:

Interview random cyclist #1

- Have you ever had problems getting past pedestrians while cycling through the park?

All the time, especially during rush hour it’s very crowded here. Especially groups walking next to each other blocking the path. - What are you currently doing in these situations?

I usually ring my bell a lot till there is room to get past, but whenever they have earpods in for example I really have to go around the grass.

- (After showing prototype) What do you think of our solution? I think this is really useful as it is fun and it handles a real problem here. I would definitely benefit from it and use it. - Do you have any further comments?

Not really no.

Interview random pedestrian #1

- Have you ever had problems getting past cyclists while cycling through the park?

We  bump in to each other once in while, but we both usually divert ways before it gets to contact. It’s mostly the speeding one’s that you have to look out for. - What are you currently doing in these situations?

When I see a cyclist approaching I make room to let get them past, but sometimes there isn’t much room to make so it gets awkward as the cyclists has to really slow down and get to a stop to get past.

- (After showing prototype) What do you think of our solution? This will probably work directing the cyclists to that fun road. Making both the cyclists and pedestrians benefit. - Do you have any further comments?

The idea is interesting.

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Low-fidelity Prototype

We visited the park one more time and based on the further observations we made, most cyclists that take this route are very distracted, since they are in a hurry and/or have their headphones in, which limits their reaction time and can make them unresponsive to the pedestrians. This is why we decided to choose a designated route, which is to be used only by cyclists and even though it’s a detour and may take up one minute longer than the shortcut, we feel like cyclists will cycle down this road anyway if they are given the right motivation. This is how we came up with the idea for our low-fidelity prototype.

The route we have selected will be exclusive to cyclists and will start and end with illuminated START and FINISH sign. The inspiration behind this is making the cyclists feel like they are part of a racing track, like Tour de France. Furthermore, they will be guided by light illumination projections on the ground, which will be responsive to their movement and will be attached to the lamp posts along the road. The sensors for these projections are going to be put 4 meters before the cyclist passes through the lamp, so it can illuminate beforehand. Along the intersections where their road intercuts with pedestrian alleys, signs will be put to warn people on foot about the possible dangers of speeding bikes. When they come close to exiting on the main path from the park lane, they will see a FINISH sign with a panel underneath, which will tell the cyclists how fast they were going, as well as smiley or frowning faces, which will rate their speed - smiley for below 10 km/h and frowney for above 10 km/h. The sensors for those smiley/frowney faces will be put 10 meters before the cyclist passes through it.

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Design Brief

The Valkenberg Park On Sunday morning we visited the Valkenberg Park. The first thing we noticed was the dirty water next to the Military Castle, there were a lot of trees and green in the park but it was a bit dirty around the water areas. We saw a lot of bikes even though it was Sunday morning which can be considered a non-busy time of the park. On a Friday for instance the number of pedestrians and bikers in the park is much more, therefore the risks will be much higher for children and pedestrians in general.

While walking around the park, observing, we got to the dock, since we considered it as a interesting place. The primal impression was that the dock is dangerous. It is not secured with fences. There might be a chance of falling down the water in certain cases of negligence. We suggested that the dock is not very well lighted during the night.

On the (lake) there is a lighthouse, which is just a piece of art. It does not serve any practical purpose. The lighthouse is surrounded by a main road, bike lane, water and a bridge leading to the park. When standing from the side of the dock, and when it is not windy, a clear reflection could be seen in the water on the other side of the coast.

Cyclists We noticed the park was both occupied by pedestrians and cyclists. However it was obvious the pedestrians were annoyed by most cyclists as they share the same paths. The park is often used as a shortcut to get from the train station to the city centre, with pedestrians and cyclists having to dodge each other. There are multiple roads within the park leading to different places and crossing each one’s way. Pedestrians are either going alone, with pets, children or baby carts. There are also animals who are randomly crossing or staying on the lanes. With all this traffic it’s waiting for more accidents, just like one from this year between a cyclists and an old woman. According to a poll on the local news website BN de Stem 70% of the voters (3400+ in total) would like the park to be a pedestrians only environment (Peeters, 2018).

Our target group are the cyclists, pedestrians and animals. In the Netherlands bikes have priority over pedestrians. The initial use for those lanes was intended to be only for pedestrians. Later cyclists were allowed to go through the park with their bikes. Our priority is to ensure the safeness of pedestrians and animals, since we think they should have one place where they can walk normally and not to worry about priority.

Problem observations Our main issues with the park are the cyclists and pedestrians colliding on the same pathways making the park a bit hectic and unsafe for both cyclists and every pedestrian.

Bicyclers are constantly driving through the park and they are not taking into account the pedestrians.  Our possible solution is to divide the lanes on pedestrian and cyclist sector interactively.

Sources: Peters, P. (2018). Municipality of Breda about accident in Valkenberg: 'Take account of each other'. Retrieved on 25.09.2018 from: https://www.bndestem.nl/breda/gemeente-breda-over-ongeval-in-valkenberg-hou-rekening-met-elkaar~a0fe85f6/

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Meet the team

Jim Derks          Born in Germany, but living in Breda for as far as he can remember. Knows the town and their people through and through.   Gina Pliskova   The creative brain our of team seeing possibilities where others don’t. Dimitri Dimitrov    Our tech specialist, known for his ability to make anything work. Polly Petkova  Blessed with the strength to get the absolute most done out of every opportunity she gets. Hristo Kanov  Originally from the magical town of Vratsa, but has come to Breda to make a change.