Ripple
a comprehensive bike safety system designed to keep bikers safe on the road
In this design challenge, we were tasked with improving the experience for bikers in New York City. After interviewing multiple New York bikers, we chose to focus on the territory of bike safety when road-sharing. Our solution was Ripple, a comprehensive bike safety system dessigned to improve the awareness and communication of bikers when on the road. By alerting riders of other on-road hazards, including pot holes and rear-appoaching hazards, we aimed to allow bikers of all skill levels to bike more confidently in the city.
The Problem
Through a series of ethnographic interviews and secondary research, we found that safety when road-sharing is one of the biggest pain points for bikers in New York City. This is especially pertinent in New York, where streets are narrow, bike lanes aare not always consistently present, and there is a constant bustle of both cars and pedestrianss at all times. However, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, people are eager to get outside through biking, and the New York is investing resources towards improving biking infrastructure. This lead to our team's key insight: People will bike more given better infrastructure and city-wide promotion, leading to an increase in bikes on the road. However, this will lead to more road shring with cars and pedestrians, leading to more accidents. Through our interviews, we found that communication was key, and that cyclists had a strong desire to know what was around them and be able to act accordingly. However, it was important that the solution be non-intrusive to the biking experience, and low in cost.
When you're biking, the most important thing is processing all the information that's around you and thinking through every possibility. The stakes are high, because if you miss something, it could be fatal.
Phillip Maranan
NYC Cyclist
Ripple Haptic Feedback Device
The Ripple haptic feedback device clips seamlessly onto the cyclists handlebars, and provides a customizable vibrating signal to alert the cylist of rear-approaching hazards.
- Fully customizeable haptic signalling to fit the vibration intensity and length that best suits your ride style
- Battery powered to mitigate the need to recharge nightly and reduce costs
- No-tool assembly to ensure it isn't cumbersome to install
Ripple Rear Sensor Light
The rear sensor light uses ultrasonic sensing to detect rear-approaching motorists and pedestrians up to 30m away. It connects to the handlebar clip-on through NFC and bluetooth technology.
Ripple App
The Ripple app coordinates all of these feaatures, allowing for seamless user input. Through the app users can:
- Be walked through the set-up of their device to ensure seamless installation
- Alter the settings of their vibrations to ensure it precisely fits their ride style and personal preferences
- Opt-in the alerts about the upcoming road health, gaining access to information about potholes that is collected from ride-data from other cylists
- Send and receive disrtess signaals from nearby cylists when in need