This app allows people to relax on public transport without worrying about missing their destination, helping to make their routine commute less stressful. In 2019, METROREX transported 90.5 million people, with around 600K–800K using the subway daily, while STB (terrestrial public transport) serves about 2.4 million passengers each day. Public transport is a routine part of life for many, and engaging in other activities helps them disconnect from the monotony of daily travel. However, these distractions can also cause people to miss their stop.
This app allows people to relax on public transport without worrying about missing their destination, helping to make their routine commute less stressful. In 2019, METROREX transported 90.5 million people, with around 600K–800K using the subway daily, while STB (terrestrial public transport) serves about 2.4 million passengers each day. Public transport is a routine part of life for many, and engaging in other activities helps them disconnect from the monotony of daily travel. However, these distractions can also cause people to miss their stop.
Market research | Competitive analysis | User survey | Personas | User journey map | Storyboarding | Flow diagram | High-fidelity UI Design ( Usability study | UI Style Guide and Grid )
Market research
THE CLAIM
Public transport is a daily routine for many, and small distractions help break the monotony but can lead to missed stops. In Romania, limited signage and inconsistent audio announcements make it harder for passengers to know when to get off, highlighting the need for better solutions.
THE PROBLEM
Passengers rely on different cues depending on their activity, which creates gaps. Music listeners depend on visuals, phone users on audio, and those who sleep, especially on long trips, need active alerts to avoid missing their stop.
Competitive analysis
11 IOS apps were downloaded and tested and also other methods like setting a custom reminder with an active location-based alarm were taken into consideration. They were reviewed independently and the most important features got noted. They were given a rating based on how they behaved, how easy was the UI to navigate, and how easily the need was satisfied.
Don’t miss the stop ★★★☆☆
THE GOOD
- The map can rotate.
- Can keep multiple custom addresses.
- Sound and vibration independent toggle.
- Can be set with a pin or by filling in the address.
- Addresses can be customized (Home, Work...)
THE BAD
- An alarm can be activated once at a time.
- Press start to start the trip, other apps use toggle.
Circa ★☆☆☆☆
THE GOOD
- Simple to use.
- The map can rotate.
THE BAD
- Can’t be set with a pin, only by filling in the address.
- Doesn’t show the destination on the map.
Já Chegou? ★★★★☆
THE GOOD
- Can keep multiple custom addresses.
- Sound and vibration independent toggle.
- Multiple alarms can work simultaneously.
- Can set custom alarm sounds on different destinations.
- Custom days notifications on different destinations.
- Can be set with a pin or by filling in the address.
- Easy toggle to close or activate a destination.
THE BAD
- Outdated feel and bad UX
SleepyMe ★★☆☆☆
THE GOOD
- Simple to use.
- Can set custom alarm sound.
- Can stop and resume the trip.
- Can keep multiple custom addresses as favorites.
- Shows how much time has passed from when you left.
THE BAD
- Can’t be set with a pin, only by filling in the address.
- Confusing layout.
Transitnap ★★★★☆
THE GOOD
- Sound and vibration independent toggle.
- Custom alarm sounds on different destinations.
- Can set different distance units.
- Wake warning of lost GPS signal or low battery.
THE BAD
- Can be set by pin only, you can't search by address.
- You need to start a trip by clicking Let’s Go, other apps can be activated only by a toggle.
OmniBuzz ★★★☆☆
THE GOOD
- Can be set with a pin or by filling in the address.
- Easy Enable/ Disable alarm toggle.
- Different map visualization types.
- Can set different distance units.
- Has a tutorial.
- The map can rotate.
THE BAD
- Can’t keep multiple custom addresses.
GPSReminder 2Free ★★☆☆☆
THE GOOD
- Can be set with a pin or by filling in the address.
- Multiple alarms can work simultaneously.
- Different map visualization types.
- Can set different distance units.
- The map can rotate.
THE BAD
- Confusing layout.
- Free version maximum of 3 reminders.
R@Location ★☆☆☆☆
THE GOOD
- Can be set with a pin or by filling in the address.
- Can show different pins on the map.
- Can set different distance units.
- Different color pins.
THE BAD
- Confusing date and leave/ arrival date settings.
- Free version maximum of 3 reminders.
- Confusing layout and pin toggle.
Localarm ★★★★☆
THE GOOD
- Simple to use.
- Professional layout.
- Informative and trustworthy.
- Addresses can be customized (Home, Work...)
- Easy toggle to close or activate a destination.
- Multiple alarms can work simultaneously.
THE BAD
- Free version maximum of 1 reminder.
WakeGuard! ★★☆☆☆
THE GOOD
- Can be set with a pin or by filling in the address.
- Toggle to close or activate a destination.
- Can keep multiple custom addresses.
THE BAD
- Can be set by pin only, you can't search by address.
- Free version max. 2 reminders and limited features.
- Confusing and unintuitive way to set destinations in comparison with other apps.
Glarm ★★★★☆
THE GOOD
- Can be set with a pin or by filling in the address.
- Can keep multiple custom addresses.
- Addresses can be customized (Home, Work...)
- Can set custom alarm sounds on different destinations.
- Custom categories (Walk, Car, Train...) on different destinations.
THE BAD
- Multiple alarms can work simultaneously but not independently.
Conclusions
Customizations and toggles are the main features of this kind of app. Freedom in choosing how to select a destination, whether is by placing a pin or entering an address is also an important feature to take into consideration. All apps use location based alarm, non of them are made for subterranean mediums of transportation.
User survey
With this survey, we like to figure out what are the most used types of public transport, and what made the passenger skip their stop. We also like to check the pros and cons of the existing methods that some people use so that they don’t miss their destination.
From this survey, we concluded that people in Bucharest don’t have a reliable everyday way to tell them when to get off. They change their approach almost daily because either it’s very crowded and they can’t see the visual signs, or they listen to music and can’t hear audio announcements.. Almost all of them have a thing in common, they use their phone in some way or another.
Personas
Three personas were created based on a larger group of users found in the user survey and from the features found in the competitor’s app, to explain the major goals and frustrations of the user group. We chose to have a female and a male persona because we saw a difference in gender behavior in public transport in Bucharest.
- Age 23
- Location Bucharest
- Occupation Student
- Family status Single/ No kids
About Delia
As a student, Delia takes the subway to university every day. She doesn’t find comfort in public transport but it’s convenient because she has a student discount and can get fast from one point to another. She always listens to music whether she works, takes a shower, or while taking public transport. While taking the subway train you will always find her on her phone texting her friends, playing games, or rehearsing her courses. There were countless times that she found herself missing the stop because she checked the visual signs too late.
FRUSTRATIONS
- Always has to stay alert and fears that she might not get to class in time.
- Checking the visual signs to know when to get off, breaks her concentration.
GOALS
- She wants to focus on her task without worrying about when to get off.
- She wants all her devices to work seamlessly together.
- Age 35
- Location Bucharest
- Occupation Engineer
- Family status Married/ No kids
About Dan
Dan is an engineer who works with a large team. His job is demanding and he needs to meet strict deadlines. His method of transportation is taking the subway and bus because it’s faster and feels too tired and sleepy to put up with the traffic by driving home. He usually finds himself dozing off on a seat in the subway and wakes up skipping the stop. He finds it frustrating when that happens because he misses the bus, has to return to his original subway stop, go to the bus station and wait for another bus to come.
FRUSTRATIONS
- He always has to stay alert so he won't miss the stop.
- He sometimes missed his stop when he didn't wake up on time.
GOALS
- He wants to take a nap to have a little energy left when he gets home.
- He wants to wake up on time so he doesn't miss the stop and the bus.
- Age 26
- Location Bucharest
- Occupation Student
- Family status Single/ No kids
About Paul
Paul likes to travel the country. He prefers to take the train because he finds it cheap compared to other transportation methods. Some trips are longer and he falls asleep on his way. He always panics when he wakes up because he doesn’t know if he missed his stop. Without any information on the train, he checks what time it is, asks the person next to him for info. and then he checks his location maps. He tried to put alarms on his phone to wake him up before his stop, but Romanian trains have delays and he would have wanted to sleep more.
FRUSTRATIONS
- Location and stop information do not exist in Romanian trains.
- He panics because he is afraid that he might have missed his stop.
GOALS
- He wants to sleep and get up on time so that he can get his luggage/ backpack and prepare to get off.
- He wants to be notified by phone so that he doesn't have to disturb other passengers that might sleep.
User journey map
Delia
The user journey map identifies the pain points and feelings Delia might go through on a normal day. Two scenarios show what would it’d be if she missed or reached her stop. Here is presented the scenario where she reaches her destination. I also added the opportunities other apps didn’t have.
TASKLIST
- She gets her wallet from her backpack so that she can validate the metro card.
FEELINGS
- She’s anxious because she doesn’t find her wallet quickly.
- She’s annoyed that it’s crowded and has to wait to get in.
PAIN POINTS
- With a daily routine, going and coming back home from the university, taking public transport is a mundane task.
- The distraction used in public transport sometimes makes her skip her stop.
APP OPPORTUNITY
- She receives a daily notification set by her to get into the app quicker, but also not to forget to start the journey.
TASKLIST
- She scans the card and gets in.
- She tries to pick up the pace so she gets on her first subway train that comes/ or has arrived.
- She gets on the train, grabs the holding bar, and starts to read/ text/play on her phone.
FEELINGS
- She’s anxious and rushes to see if her subway train has arrived or not.
- She's annoyed that it’s rush hour and it’s crowded.
PAIN POINTS
- The existing apps for this problem do not support any underground transportation because they lose GPS signal.
APP OPPORTUNITY
- She starts her preset trip and carries on with her tasks, listening to music and browsing her phone.
- The trip can be started from the lock screen or by opening the app right from the lock screen.
TASKLIST
- She wants to concentrate on reading/ texting/ playing on her phone but has to keep an eye out to see when to get off.
FEELINGS
- She’s frustrated that she wants to rehearse but gets distracted because she has to keep an eye on the visual signs in the metro as well so she won’t miss her stop.
PAIN POINTS
- In most of the apps (except 1) the created trip is toggled on or off and can’t be set on individual days. Thus creating confusion when she wants to take public transport on weekend to another station. Unless she toggles the trip off, the alarm will go off near her university.
APP OPPORTUNITY
- The app’s alarm can be customized, by choosing from different sounds and vibrations. If the user chooses to listen to music they will hear the alarm in their headphones.
- The app can be set to only vibration too.
TASKLIST
- She checks the visual signs on the subway train and sees that the next stop is her destination.
- She locks her phone and goes to the nearest door to prepare to get off to her stop.
FEELINGS
- She feels relieved that she doesn’t have to pay attention to different tasks.
- She’s happy that she arrived and doesn't have to stay cramped.
PAIN POINTS
- She might get anxious the first time using the app because she’s not sure if it’ll work properly or not.
APP OPPORTUNITY
- The app‘s alarm goes off before the designated distance.
- The distracted user is reminded to prepare to get off.
TASKLIST
- She gets out of the subway.
FEELINGS
- She’s mildly annoyed that it’s crowded and the people in the station try to get in before people get out of the subway train.
PAIN POINTS
- For a seamless experience, she has to give the app permission to refresh in the background and the location to be always on.
APP OPPORTUNITY
- The app‘s alarm goes off before the designated distance.
- The distracted user is reminded to prepare to get off.
Flow diagram
This is a simple flow diagram of the Quick Trip option. The full diagram can be found below including all the steps and decisions that the user needs to make to register a trip. There are two important flows, one for quick trips and other to schedule a trips.
High-fidelity UI Design
This app helps people stay relaxed on public transport without worrying about missing their stop. It allows users to create quick trips for one-time journeys or set up scheduled trips for regular commutes, making travel less stressful.
Bus, Tram, Subway, Train
The app is designed for multiple transport types, including options such as buses, trams, trains, subways, and ferries.
Quick trip or Schedule a trip
Users can set up a quick trip or schedule recurring journeys, saving destinations for repeated use. For routine commutes, the app ensures they are notified when to get off, even if they are tired or distracted.
Distance and Notifications
Once the trip starts, a live widget displays the remaining distance and estimated time until the stop notification.
To test the prototype effectively, access it using a desktop computer for the best user experience.
UI Style Guide
A calming and warm UI Style Guide was chosen to make the user feel more in control and relaxed. The color contrast was tested with the “Contrast Checker” by WebAIM.