MTA Safety App
Buddy Up!
The MTA is an everyday use of transportation for the people of New York City. With an annual ridership of 760 million, 43% of commuters felt "somewhat unsafe" or "very unsafe" while riding the train during the day. Additionally, 61% of passengers feel the same while riding the train at night. Commuters are forced to deal with this fear and stay vigilant on train platforms.
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What if there was a digital application that eased the stress and uneasiness when taking the train?
Role:
Research, UI/UX
Duration:
3 Weeks
Software:
Adobe XD, Figma, Illustrator
Year:
May 2022
Most NYC commuters feel somewhat unsafe when taking the subway. How can we utilize technology to help riders feel safer when taking the train?
The Problem:
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Feeling Uneasy when Taking the Train
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Taking the train alone can be daunting. Implementing a safe buddy system using an online application can help commuters feel safer. It can also encourage a sense of community and safety in a time of heavy crime.
The Solution:
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Implementing a safe buddy system.
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Competitive Analysis:
Exploring other Apps for Solutions and Opportunities
To fully understand how to create a safety app for New York City commuters, I analyzed the strengths, weaknesses, and identified missed opportunities for various applications along the way. Here are two apps I focused on.
bSafe - Never Walk Alone
bSafe prevents and documents violence and threats for people in your community using advanced technology.
Learnings
Quick and easy safety: SOS can be activated from voice activation. No need to waste time clicking on the app. SOS alerts guardians and an automatic recording starts.
Quadruple Assurance: A series of steps to ensure safety and evidence.
Opportunities
Chat feature: Allow people in the community to chat and warn each other.
For everyone: bSafe is marketed towards families, companies, friends, and anyone who wants to ensure a person is home safe. Creating a free basic version will promote their mission of inclusion.
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Exit Strategy
Exit Strategy helps you plan where to stand, and shaves minutes off every subway trip.
Learnings
Accuracy: It alerts you which exact train cart you should take to get to your destination.
Accessibility: Works without a data connection. Important for users who won't have data when underground.
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Opportunities
Neighborhood Maps: Consistently updated maps with street view.
Exit for Safety: Telling commuters to exit/avoid a specific train cart if suspicious behavior was spotted.
Updates: A modern feel, with all-screen compatibility.
User Research:
User Interview findings
I conducted 13 user interviews using a varied age demographic. Here are my findings
What I learned ...
1) Change in Behavior
Most participants noted that they'd changed their commuting habits. For example, they try not to stand on the yellow line or near it, are more vigilant for suspicious activity, avoid emptier areas, and some try to stand close to exits.
2) NYPD has not stopped commuter fear
NYC has increased the presence of law enforcement in the MTA. However, most participants noted that their fear levels had stayed the same with more policing. In a personal interview, a participant pointed out that police are often found around ticketing booths to catch fare evasions rather than on the platform, where more individuals are at risk of being victims of a crime. Another participant noted that they feel more overwhelmed by the number of police officers at stations.
3) Taking the Train Alone
Most participants noted that they try not to isolate themselves while taking the train. Many female participants also reported having effective self-defense devices helps them feel safer when traveling alone in NYC.
People more at risk of being a victim of violent crime are...
The Elderly
Unhoused riders
People riding Alone
What is the city planning to do about the elevated fear NYC Commuters are facing?
1. "Proactive" Policing
2. Mental Health Treatment "Subway Safety Plan"
- Mayor Eric Adams boosted the number of uniformed officers patrolling the subway after he took office in January
- Create “up to 30” civilian homelessness and mental-health outreach teams across “high-need locations across our city”
- Create new Drop-in Centers near subway stations, so that mental-health workers can “directly transition” people from subway stations to safe spaces.
- Expand the number of in-patient psychiatric beds and “streamline” the placement process for supportive housing for the mentally ill.
Why these solutions are not enough!
- Police have increased enforcement of quality-of-life infractions like public urination, smoking and fare evasion, or even selling mangos in the station, which has drawn criticism for targeting vulnerable New Yorkers without necessarily increasing public safety. The police are also seen often near booths to catch fare evaders rather than on train platforms or train carts where most of the subway crimes occur. Thus, many commuters do not feel safer with their presence
- Additionally, while the subway safety plan is helpful, it's still important to note that unhoused or mentally ill people who need such outreach can simply refuse aid and wave outreach workers along. Thus, if such individuals are keeping commuters on edge and scared, they need other recourses to help them get through their commute. A subway safety app that encourages them to take the train with a friend, can alleviate their train anxiety.
My Project Goals
NYC subway violence has increased, and as a result, commuters have become more anxious. So I planned to design a subway safety app that encourages people to seamlessly commute with friends to help them feel more secure and lessen their chances of becoming victims of such violence.
Community
The purpose of the safety app is to encourage people to take the train home with a trusted individual. In addition, I wanted this app to promote community between coworkers, classmates, and more. By making an inviting app environment, I can accomplish this.
Accesibility
Over 4.3 million people ride the subway every day. I wanted to create an experience inclusive of all individuals. It has to be easy to understand and navigate.
Information
Making the app informative was a priority. Users want to be efficient. That's why I wanted to prioritize telling the critical user information such as nearby incidents and commuter tips while they're going toward their destination. I want to give the user options without overwhelming them.
User Persona:
Using my research findings, I created three user personas based on the mind of a college student, a workaholic extrovert, and a busy father.
Cyra the
College Student
“Traveling in the company of those who we love is true home in motion”
Needs
- Safety
- Friends
Struggles
- Directions
- Overload of Information
As a workholic, I often find my self leaving the office late at night and wanting to find someone new to take the train with. I want to feel safer taking the train at night, while also bonding with my co-workers.
Evelyn the Extrovert
As an out-of-state college student, I want to understand how to navigate the NYC subway system without the fear of getting lost and while expanding new friendships.
“Love to meet new people and hear their stories”
Needs
- Social Interaction
- Safety esp. at Night
Struggles
- Finding co-workers who want to take the train together
- Isolation Anxiety in Trains
Mark the
Multi-tasker
“Being a father comes first, multi-tasking comes second."
As a busy father with a family in NYC, I want to take the train with my daughters and do my errands right after as efficiently as possible.
Needs
- Safe Kids
- To save time
- Updates on Kids
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Struggles
- Too many places to go
- Overprotective
- To use technology
High-fidelity Wireframes:
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After finalizing my user goals and creating my personas, I started the wireframing process. I sketched out what the app would look like on paper and then developed a mid-fidelity wireframe on Adobe Sketch. Down below are the final wireframes for the app.
UX/UI Kit:
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Buttons I designed using Adobe Illustrator
Type and Color:
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For the color palette, I wanted to combine the MTA colors so people know it's a subway app and incorporate more pastels, so it's easier on the eye. The font is the MTA subway font.
Final Prototype:
Let's take the train with a friend!
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