Abstract
This article presents results from a pilot study addressed to investigate the design of behavior change intervention using smartphones for cycle commuting. In this specific case, a smartphone app, BikeTogether, was developed to encourage and support its users to cycle home with each other over the Internet. The app employs the metaphor of a bicycle flashlight to represent closeness, leading, and following between two sides. The cycling performance can also be recorded so the users can track how they are doing over time. 10 participants were instructed and randomly paired to take a two-phases test ride on different routes. Results indicated that the app can help create the sense of being with each other while cycling and promote not only accompanied but competing ride. In addition, the outcome of the desirability towards the app implies a higher chance it will lead to a behavior change. This provides a new way of seeing, being and knowing solitude, a state that we commit to remain encouraged.
Highlights
Cycling home after work is an example of sustainable transportation that accomplishes the commute and exercise with only one effort
Evaluation In order to understand if BikeTogether can effectively convey information to people engaged in a cycling activity via the screen light from a smartphone mounted on the handlebar, and whether this can influence their attitude towards the transit of this kind, a two-phase experiment was designed and carried out with real users in the Dajia Riverside bicycle path, which is one of the busiest paths for cycle commuting in Taipei City
On the day prior to the scheduled experiment, participants received a notification via Facebook Messenger to remind and confirm the appointment. They were all notified to wear comfortable clothing. Two bicycles both with a smartphone mounted on the handlebars and BikeTogether preinstalled were prepared for the evaluation
Summary
Cycling home after work is an example of sustainable transportation that accomplishes the commute and exercise with only one effort. BikeTogether The goal of BikeTogether is to motivate people who just start cycle commuting to do it more by providing a tangible approach in creating a remote sense of togetherness. The users grab their bicycles, mount their smartphones on the handlebars, and turn on the app.
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