Designing for Accessible Transportation Information

Overview

Application: Transit ↗️

They work with transit agencies and mobility companies to get cities moving.

Brief:

Transportation systems strive to serve all users, but limited resources and external factors can hinder their ability to do so.

Tools Used:

Figma

Duration:

1 month

Objectives:

To create an accessible public transportation system that caters to the needs of individuals with physical disabilities/impairments.

Design Process

Key Features

Informative icons for Accessibility

The app not only suggests travel routes but also informs the user about how accessible options are.

The user can then make an appropriate decision.

Home page

Curate UI based on the type of impairment

The app provides the user to control the type of impairment he/she has. Also, some insights are presented about how it could help
overall travel.

Then the suggestions and information are curated accordingly.

Settings Page

Gamified reporting system

Whenever a user is passing by an elevator, stairs, damaged roads, etc the app tries to verify/update whether there’s any issue.

When reported, the user can then get specific points that he, later on, uses for rewards.

Location Specific Page

Gamified reporting system

To keep the app up to date with the
status of the issue, the app tries to build sustained interest through a progression
to achieve larger rewards.

Rewards Page

Validating the issue

To cut through wrongful report submissions, the app asks users to upload a picture of the issue and select the type from the categories list.

Rewards Page

UX Research

Background:

According to the US Census Bureau, 12.6% of the US population has some form of disability.

Survey Insights:

Four graduate and undergraduate students from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), who faced mobility disabilities, were included in the survey.

What type of infrastructure issues have you
experienced while traveling?

  • I have experienced broken elevators at stations.

  • Obstructed paths made it difficult for me to navigate the station.

How did you typically get information about transportation infrastructure issues?

  • I usually rely on station announcements to get information about any infrastructure issues.

  • Sometimes, I also check social media accounts of the transportation authorities.

Existing apps

We studied existing apps catering to accessibility in the travel domain to identify successful features and design strategies that could enhance our own travel app's user experience.

Wheelmap.org

  • Accessibility-based iconography.

  • Description of steps are washrooms accessible.

  • Clear distinction to know the area of the footpath

Heuristic Evaluation

How might we statements

Solution statement

After implementing various UX processes, I defined the solution statement based on
the insights and findings gathered
throughout the project.

A survey by the American Public Transportation Association found that 65% of riders with disabilities have experienced problems using public transportation.

“100% of them experienced difficulties while traveling”

How did you typically get information about transportation infrastructure issues?

  • I usually rely on station announcements to get information about any infrastructure issues.

  • Sometimes, I also check social media accounts of the transportation authorities.

What features would you like to see in an application that allows you to report and validate travel-related issues?

  • I would also like to be able to receive updates on the status of the reported issue.

Tubemap

  • Suggests which compartment has seats available.

  • Accessibility rating for platforms

  • Also, the ratings include ease of use when heavy luggage, pushchair

Microsoft Soundscape

  • Anticipates nearby crossing, signals (lower down vision)

  • Suggests nearby accessible places on search

  • Shazam like city exploration

Based on a set of 10 principles, I performed heuristic evaluations, and the redesign of the app was primarily driven by the insights gained from these evaluations.

10 Principles:

  • Visibility of system status

  • Match between system and real world

  • User control and freedom

  • Consistency and standard

  • Error prevention

These are a representation of the audience that characterizes the user’s behavior & Goals

I focused on specific challenges or opportunities, then explored diverse possibilities and generated impactful ideas.

  • Recognition rather than recall

  • Flexibility and efficiency of use

  • Aesthetic and minimal design

  • Help users recognize, diagnose, and recover
    from errors

  • Help and documentation

Archetypes

Wheelchair Marie

Goal
To navigate the public transportation system safely and efficiently using her wheelchair.

Need
Working elevators and escalators, sufficient space on buses and trains for her wheelchair

Wheelchair Marie

Goal
To be able to travel independently using public transportation despite his mobility impairment.

Need
Accessible entrances and exits, level and stable surfaces, real-time information on accessible transportation options

Wheelchair Marie

Goal
To be able to travel with her stroller and young child safely and comfortably using public transportation.

Need
Not crowded areas, assistance with carrying heavy items.

“A community-driven platform that enables users to report and verify transportation-related issues.”

Sketches

I did sketching to quickly gather feedback from peers. This allowed me to assess how well my conceptualization aligned with the intended design direction.

Low fidelity wireframes

The wireframing stage helped me visualize the solution. It also facilitated the creation of scenarios, enabling a smoother transition to the real app experience.

High fidelity wireframes