Empathy: Millions of individuals are affected by this issue on a regular basis.

For many areas,

public transportation networks serve as their main mode of mobility; hence, the pandemic's
disruption has had a significant negative economic and social impact. Understanding how to
boost the use of public transportation in a safe and efficient manner while abiding by safety laws
is crucial for moving past this interruption.
 
 
Notes from the first interview
1. Public transportation networks have been severely impacted by the pandemic, resulting in
reduced ridership and economic losses.
2. Safety concerns have led to decreased use of public transportation as people are wary of
potential exposure.
3. Governments have implemented various measures to promote the safe and efficient use
of public transportation, such as enforcing social distancing and encouraging contactless
payment.
4. Public transportation agencies have also taken steps to reduce crowding, such as
adjusting routes and schedules, increasing service frequency, and providing discounts to
encourage ridership.
5. Use of public transportation is essential for many people to access essential services, and
its disruption has impacted essential workers and individuals living in rural or suburban
areas with limited mobility options.
 
Digging deeper into the second interview
 
1. Public transportation agencies have been facing financial challenges due to the pandemic,
with reduced ridership leading to a decrease in revenue.
2. Governments have responded by providing financial aid to public transportation
agencies, such as subsidies, grants, and loans.
3. Challenges remain in terms of ensuring the safe and efficient operation of public
transportation networks, as well as incentivizing ridership.
4. Some transportation agencies have implemented measures such as contactless payment
and real-time tracking of capacity levels to reduce crowding.
5. Public transportation agencies have also been exploring new technologies to improve
safety and efficiency, such as automated ticketing systems and contact tracing
technology.
 
 
 
Capture findings
Needs:
The pandemic has had a significant negative impact on public transportation networks, leading to
decreased ridership and financial losses. Governments, transportation agencies, and the public all
have a need to ensure the safe, efficient, and financially viable operation of public transportation
networks. To achieve this, governments have implemented measures such as enforcing social
distancing, providing financial aid to public transportation agencies, and encouraging contactless
payment. Additionally, public transportation agencies have taken steps to reduce crowding and
explored new technologies to improve safety and efficiency.
 
1. increase ridership and revenue for public transportation networks.
2. Ensure the safe and efficient operation of public transportation networks.
3. Incentivize ridership.
4. Reduce crowding.
5. Explore new technologies to improve safety and efficiency.
 
Insights:
1. Governments are prioritizing public safety over economic considerations when
supporting public transportation networks.
2. People are wary of using public transportation due to safety concerns.
3. People rely on public transportation for essential services and mobility, especially those
who live in rural or suburban areas.
4. New technologies can help improve safety and efficiency, but they must be implemented
in ways that are both user-friendly and cost-effective.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Partner name and description: random person description
users needs
insight
 
How might we design a safe and efficient user experience for public transportation that
encourages ridership while taking into consideration the financial and safety needs of public
transportation agencies and the mobility needs of essential workers and individuals living in rural
or suburban areas?
Jack is a 22-year-old essential worker who lives in a rural area and relies on public transportation
for his daily commute. He is concerned about the safety of public transportation due to the
pandemic and is looking for a user experience that is both safe and efficient.
Public transportation networks need a way to increase ridership and revenue while ensuring the
safe and efficient operation of their networks, surprisingly due to the pandemic's disruption,
which led to decreased ridership and economic losses and a fear of potential exposure, but also
because people rely on public transportation for essential services and mobility, especially those
who live in rural or suburban areas.
 
Ideate: generate alternatives to test.
 
How might we design a safe and efficient user experience for public transportation that
encourages ridership while taking into consideration the financial and safety needs of public
transportation agencies and the mobility needs of essential workers and individuals living in rural
or suburban areas?
 
Sketch at least 5 radical ways to meet your user’s needs.
Potential Ideas:
1. Develop an AI-powered virtual assistant that provides personalized recommendations for
routes and schedules based on the individual user's needs.
2. Introduce an augmented reality experience that provides users with real-time information
about the public transportation network.
3. Utilize facial recognition technology to provide a secure, contactless authentication
system for boarding.
4. Create a mobile app that allows users to book rides on demand and track their journey in
real-time.
5. Develop a ride-sharing system that allows individuals to share their commute with other
riders and split the cost of the ride.
 
Share your solutions and capture feedback.
I have developed five potential solutions to help improve the user experience of public
transportation networks while taking into consideration the financial and safety needs of public
transportation agencies and the mobility needs of essential workers and individuals living in rural
or suburban areas.
The solutions are:
1. Develop an AI-powered virtual assistant that provides personalized recommendations for
routes and schedules based on the individual user's needs.
2. Introduce an augmented reality experience that provides users with real-time information
about the public transportation network.
3. Utilize facial recognition technology to provide a secure, contactless authentication
system for boarding.
 4. Create a mobile app that allows users to book rides on demand and track their journey in
real-time.
5. Develop a ride-sharing system that allows individuals to share their commute with other
riders and split the cost of the ride.
 
I would appreciate any feedback or suggestions you have on these solutions.
 
1. Develop an AI-powered virtual assistant that provides personalized recommendations for
routes and schedules based on the individual user's needs.
Feedback: This could be a great way to simplify the task of planning trips for users, but it could
also be difficult to implement due to the complexity of public transportation networks.
1. Introduce an augmented reality experience that provides users with real-time information
about the public transportation network.
Feedback: This could be a great way to provide users with visual information about their journey,
but it could also be difficult to develop and costly to maintain.
1. Utilize facial recognition technology to provide a secure, contactless authentication
system for boarding.
Feedback: This could be a great way to reduce the need for physical contact, but it could also
raise privacy and security concerns.
1. Create a mobile app that allows users to book rides on demand and track their journey in
real-time.
Feedback: This could be a great way to streamline the booking process and allow users to get
real-time updates on their journey, but it could also be difficult to integrate with existing systems.
1. Develop a ride-sharing system that allows individuals to share their commute with other
riders and split the cost of the ride.
Feedback: This could be a great way to reduce the cost of journeys for users, but it could also be
difficult to manage due to potential safety and security concerns.
 
Iterate based on feedback.
reflect and generate a new solution.
Based on the feedback I have received, I have identified areas for improvement for my initial
solutions. For example, I have realized that the AI-powered virtual assistant and augmented
reality experience could be difficult and costly to develop, while the facial recognition technology
could raise privacy and security concerns. I have also realized that the mobile app and ride-
sharing system could be difficult to manage due to potential safety and security concerns.
To address these issues, I propose the development of a digital platform that provides users with
personalized information about their journey and allows them to book rides and track their
journey in real-time. This platform could integrate with existing systems, such as ticketing and
payment systems, as well as public transportation networks. It could also utilize secure
authentication methods, such as biometric authentication, to ensure the safety and security of
users. Additionally, the platform could provide users with discounts and special offers to
incentivize ridership.
 
Build and test.
To build my solution, I would create a web-based platform that provides users with personalized
information about their journey and allows them to book rides and track their journey in real-
time. The platform would integrate with existing systems, such as ticketing and payment systems,
as well as public transportation networks. It would also utilize secure authentication methods,
such as biometric authentication, to ensure the safety and security of users. Additionally, the
platform would provide users with discounts and special offers to incentivize ridership.
 
Test the solution.
To test my solution, I would conduct user testing with a small group of individuals who rely on
public transportation for their daily commute. I would ask them to use the platform and provide
feedback on their experience. I would also ask them questions about their overall satisfaction with
the platform as well as their opinion on the safety and security measures in place. Based on their
feedback, I would make any necessary adjustments to the platform to improve the user
experience.
 
Share your solution and get feedback.
I have developed a web-based platform that provides users with personalized information about
their journey and allows them to book rides and track their journey in real-time. The platform
integrates with existing systems, such as ticketing and payment systems, as well as public
transportation networks. It also utilizes secure authentication methods, such as biometric
authentication, to ensure the safety and security of users. Additionally, the platform provides
users with discounts and special offers to incentivize ridership.
What worked:
The integration with existing systems is a great way to make the platform easy to use and cost-
efficient.
Integrating the platform with existing public transportation systems is a great way to ensure that
the platform is easy to use and cost-efficient for users. This integration can be done in multiple
ways. First, the platform can be connected to existing fare payment systems to make it easier for
users to pay for their rides. Second, the platform can be connected to other transportation
networks to make it easier for users to transfer between different modes of transportation. Finally,
the platform can be integrated with existing GPS mapping systems to make it easier for users to
locate the best routes throughout their journey. All of these integrations will make the platform
more user-friendly and cost-efficient, which can help boost the use of public transportation.
Secure authentication methods are a great way to ensure the safety and security of users.
Secure authentication methods involve the use of multi-factor authentication systems that require
users to use multiple components to access their accounts. This can include the use of passwords,
PIN codes, biometric scans, or even two-factor authentication using a smartphone-generated
code. These authentication methods are designed to be secure and reliable, providing users with
an extra layer of protection that prevents unauthorized access to their accounts. Additionally,
secure authentication methods can also help to reduce fraud, as they make it more difficult for
malicious actors to gain access to user accounts.
The discounts and special offers are a great way to incentivize ridership.
In addition to providing discounts and special offers, other strategies may be implemented to
encourage the use of public transportation. These may include the introduction of flexible or
extended hours of service, improved availability of real-time information, and better access to
customer service. Additionally, safety protocols should be implemented to make riders feel
secure in their transportation. This can include increased cleaning and sanitization of vehicles and
stations, the use of safety screens in buses and trains, and the implementation of contactless
payment systems to reduce the risk of transmission. These measures may go a long way in
helping to restore confidence in public transportation and encouraging ridership.
 
 
 
What could be improved?
The user interface could be improved to make it easier to navigate.
1. Elaborate on how the platform will integrate with existing systems, such as ticketing and
payment systems.
2. Consider how the platform can provide additional helpful features, such as detailed route
information or travel alerts.
3. Describe how the platform will use secure authentication methods, such as biometric
authentication, to ensure the safety and security of users.
 
The platform could be optimized for mobile devices to make it more accessible.
The platform could be integrated with other public transportation networks to reduce crowding.
1. Integrating the platform with other public transportation networks would enable users to
access a wider range of services. This would reduce the number of people in a given area
as they could travel further distances with ease. Furthermore, this would also provide
users with more options when it comes to their journey, allowing them to choose the
most efficient route based on their needs. Additionally, the platform could offer discounts
to users who take multiple forms of transport to reach their destination, incentivizing the
use of public transportation networks.
 
Questions:
How easy is it to use the platform?
How secure is the authentication system?
Are the discounts and special offers effective in encouraging ridership?
 
Ideas:
Integrate the platform with other public transportation networks.
 Integrating the platform with other public transportation networks would enable users to
access a wider range of services. This would reduce the number of people in a given area
as they could travel further distances with ease. Furthermore, this would also provide
users with more options when it comes to their journey, allowing them to choose the
 most efficient route based on their needs. Additionally, the platform could offer discounts
to users who take multiple forms of transport to reach their destination, incentivizing the
use of public transportation networks.
 
 
optimize the platform for mobile devices.
 To optimize the platform for mobile devices, I would ensure the user interface is
designed with mobile users in mind. The application would be designed to be responsive,
meaning it would be able to adapt to the size of the user’s device. Additionally, I would
design the application to be intuitive and user-friendly, ensuring that all the essential
features are quickly and easily accessible. I would also incorporate features such as
automated notifications to alert users of any changes to their journey and enable them to
view their journey in real-time. Additionally, I would ensure that all payment transactions
are secured and incorporate features such as multi-factor authentication for added
security.
Develop a rewards program for frequent users.
 In order to incentivize ridership, I would suggest implementing a rewards program for
frequent users. This program would allow users to accumulate points for each ride they
take, which they could then redeem for discounts, free rides, and other rewards. This
would help encourage users to keep using public transportation, even in the midst of the
pandemic. Additionally, this type of program could be integrated with existing loyalty
programs, such as airline miles, to further incentivize ridership.