How would you design a bicycle renting app for students in an University?
Designing a bicycle renting app for university students requires understanding their specific needs, creating a seamless user experience, and focusing on affordability and accessibility. Below is a structured approach:
Step 1: Clarify Scope and Assumptions
The app will cater primarily to university students on medium-to-large campuses, offering standard bicycles and e-bikes. The goal is to create a mobile app (iOS and Android) that allows students to locate, rent, and return bikes with ease. This app focuses on short-distance travel within the campus, promoting eco-friendly habits while being affordable for students.
Key assumptions:
- The app targets students as primary users, although it could later include faculty and staff.
- It will prioritize a smooth rental and payment process over advanced features in the MVP.
Step 2: Understand User Personas and Needs
The app’s core user groups include:
- Commuters: Students needing a convenient and quick way to get to classes, libraries, or dorms.
- Fitness Enthusiasts: Those who use bicycles for exercise and track their performance.
- Casual Riders: Students who ride for leisure or occasional commutes around campus.
Each group has overlapping needs:
- Locate and reserve bicycles quickly.
- Access affordable, transparent pricing.
- Ensure safe parking and seamless bike returns.
- For fitness enthusiasts, additional features like calorie and distance tracking are desirable.
Step 3: Core Features for MVP
The MVP will focus on addressing the primary needs of university students. These features include:
- Real-Time Bike Availability: Display bikes on a campus map using GPS integration, allowing users to locate and reserve bikes easily.
- Flexible Payment Options: Offer hourly, daily, and monthly rental plans, supporting multiple payment methods like credit cards, digital wallets, and campus IDs.
- QR Code Unlocking: Enable quick and simple unlocking of bikes by scanning a QR code.
- Drop-Off Points: Highlight designated bike drop-off locations to streamline returns.
- Safety Features: Provide access to helmet rentals or recommend nearby helmet purchase locations.
These features will ensure the app is functional, user-friendly, and addresses the most critical pain points.
