Students who rely on campus buses often face uncertainty due to inconsistent arrival times and lack of real-time updates. This project aims to improve the commuting experience by designing a simple and user-friendly bus tracking solution. Through user research and Lean UX methods, the project identifies key pain points such as long waiting times, missed classes, and unreliable schedules. The proposed solution combines live bus tracking, estimated arrival times, and smart notifications to help students plan their journeys more effectively. By reducing uncertainty and improving access to transit information, the design creates a more convenient and stress-free transportation experience for students.

  Problem Statement

Many students depend on campus buses to travel between hostels, academic buildings, and other facilities. Current schedules are often inaccurate during busy hours, leaving students unsure when the next bus will arrive.

How Might We...

How might we help students know exactly when their campus bus will arrive so they can reduce waiting time and better plan their commute?

User Research Participant 1

"I leave my hostel and just hope the bus comes soon. Sometimes I wait 15 minutes and end up being late."

Participant 2

"The schedule says one thing, but buses don't always arrive on time. I wish I could see where the bus actually is."

Key Insights

• Students dislike uncertainty more than delays.
• Existing schedules are unreliable during peak hours.
• Users prefer real-time updates over static timetables.

Ideation Idea 1: Live Bus Tracker

Display bus locations on a map with estimated arrival times.

Idea 2: Smart Notifications

Notify students when the bus is approaching their selected stop.

Idea 3: Quick Arrival Widget

Show the next bus arrival time directly on the home screen.

Final Solution

I selected a combination of Live Bus Tracking and Smart Notifications.

Features

• Real-time bus location tracking
• Estimated arrival times
• Route visualization
• Arrival notifications (10 min, 5 min, and arrival alerts)
• Simple and intuitive interface

Feedback Positive Feedback

• Easy to understand
• Solves a real student problem
• Notifications are useful

Suggested Improvement

Add a bus occupancy indicator to show whether the bus is crowded.

Reflection

This project demonstrated how a small everyday frustration can be improved through Lean UX methods. Through user research, problem definition, ideation, and feedback, I created a solution that helps students save time and commute with confidence.

Next Steps

• Conduct testing with more students
• Develop high-fidelity Figma screens
• Integrate GPS tracking
• Add bus crowd-level information