Ride Along
Track, Share, Ride Together
A rider-first mobile app that helps motorcyclists log solo rides, sync with group adventures, and stay safe on the road. Built for those who ride for freedom — and ride better together.
See Process
The Problem
Motorcycle enthusiasts face unique challenges when planning group rides and tracking their journeys. Existing tools are either car-centric, lack real-time group syncing, or ignore the safety and social needs that matter most to motorcyclists.
Fragmented Tools
Riders use multiple apps for navigation, tracking, and communication, creating a disjointed and unsafe experience while on the road.
Group Coordination
Riders rely on WhatsApp or calls to coordinate, but missed calls during rides lead to confusion and poor syncing.
Safety Concerns
Existing apps lack motorcycle-specific safety features for emergency situations or when riders get separated from their group.
My Role
Solo UX Designer
As the solo UX Designer, I conducted research, prototyped interactions, and designed the entire mobile experience from scratch — combining utility with emotional safety for riders.
Timeline
12 weeks
Tools
Adobe XD, Sketching, User Interviews
Deliverables
Research, Wireframes, UI Design, Prototype
User Research & Insights
I interviewed 12 riders — from solo weekenders to long-distance tourers — and joined a live ride-along to understand the challenges of group coordination, safety, and memory capture firsthand.
Research Methodology
12 in-depth user interviews with motorcycle enthusiasts
Ride-along observation with a local motorcycle group
Analyzed existing motorcycle apps to identify usability gaps and feature limitations
Key User Quotes
"I've tried using regular map apps, but they don't understand how motorcyclists navigate. We need different routes than cars, and safety features that actually make sense for two wheels."
Roshan, 44
Weekend Rider
"When we ride in groups, someone always gets separated. It's stressful trying to regroup while navigating unfamiliar roads."
Zeena, 42
Group Rider
"I want to keep a record of my best rides, but existing apps drain my battery or are too complicated to use with gloves on."
Meraj, 36
Group Ride Leader
Key Pain Points
I interviewed 12 riders — from solo weekenders to long-distance tourers — and joined a live ride-along to understand the challenges of group coordination, safety, and memory capture firsthand.
Battery Drain
Continuous GPS tracking quickly depletes phone batteries, especially on longer rides.
Glove-Unfriendly
Most apps require precise tapping, making them difficult to use with motorcycle gloves.
Safety Concerns
No emergency features for accidents or when riders get separated from their group.
No Real-Time Location Sharing
Riders can’t see where others are during a ride, often leading to miscommunication and unnecessary stops.
Lack of Ride History
Most apps don’t store past rides, making it hard for users to revisit routes, share memories, or track progress.
Poor Signal Dependency
Group coordination apps often fail in low-network zones — leaving riders disconnected during crucial moments.
Personas
Solo Rider Raj
32, Software Engineer
Background
Raj loves weekend mountain rides on his Royal Enfield Himalayan. He typically rides alone but occasionally joins group rides organized by local clubs.
Goals
Track and save favorite routes for future rides
Have a safety mechanism for emergencies during solo rides
Discover new routes recommended by other riders
Frustrations
No way to share his location with family during longrides
Difficult to remember details of past rides
Group Leader Neha
29, Marketing Manager
Background
Neha leads a motorcycle group of 5-15 riders every weekend. She's responsible for planning routes, coordinating stops, and ensuring everyone's safety.
Goals
Coordinate group rides efficiently
Track all riders' locations during group rides
Communicate with riders without stopping
Frustrations
Difficult to keep track of all riders during group rides
WhatsApp groups are chaotic for ride coordination
UX Process
I designed Ride Along through a contextual, research-driven UX process — shaped by real riders, real gloves, real roads. From discovery to field testing, every phase aimed to balance safety, simplicity, and joy.
Research & Discovery
After gathering insights from interviews, I identified key user needs:
Simple, glove-friendly interface
Battery-efficient tracking
Group ride coordination
Emergency safety features
Ride history and stats
Define & Ideate
I created user personas and journey maps to understand the full rider experience:
Developed 2 key user personas
Mapped user journeys for solo and group rides
Conducted ideation workshops
Conducted affinity mapping to cluster user insights into core themes
Design & Prototype
I created wireframes and interactive prototypes focusing on:
Large touch targets for gloved hands
High contrast for outdoor visibility
Tested wireframes with bikers for real-time feedback
Simplified navigation with minimal taps
Test & Iterate
I conducted multiple rounds of usability testing:
Iterative improvements based on feedback
Outdoor testing for screen visibility
Tested with actual motorcycle gloves
8 usability testing sessions with riders
Ride Along App Structure
The app structure was designed around real rider workflows — with safety, simplicity, and quick access prioritized. Each section reflects key use cases validated through research and field testing.
.
Home
Routes
Ride
Community
Profile
• Current conditions
• Forecast
• Road alerts
Weather Status
• Scheduled rides
• Invitations
• RSVP options
Upcoming Rides
Community Feed
• Friend posts
• Group updates
• Like & comment
Past Rides
• Ride history list
• Filter options
• Sort by date/distance
Ride Summary
• Map view
• Speed metrics
• Distance traveled
• Duration
Share Ride
• Social media
• In-app sharing
• Export options
Start Solo Ride
• Select bike
• Start ride button
Live Stats Overlay
• Current speed
• Distance traveled
• Elapsed time
End Ride
• Confirm end
• View summary
Join Group Ride
• Available rides
• Join options
View Riders on Map
• Real-time locations
• Distance indicators
Emergency SOS
• One-tap alert
• Location sharing
Group Chat
• Text messages
• Voice notes
Leaderboard
• Weekly rankings
• Filter options
• Achievement badges
Riders
• Friends list
• Rider profiles
• Add new riders
Groups
• My groups
• Group ride info
• Group chat
Personal Info
• Edit profile
• Change photo
• Contact details
My Bikes
• Add/edit bikes
• Bike details
• Maintenance log
Stats
• Total rides
• Distance traveled
• Average speed
• Achievements
Settings
• App preferences
• Notifications
• Privacy
• Units (km/mi)
Logout
Initial Wireframe
Current Ride
Recording
Speed
58
kmph
Distance
27.8
kms
Elevation
842
ft
Pause
End Ride
00:45:12
Alex Morgan
"Life is better on two wheels"
128
Rides
4,587
Miles
5
Groups
Yamaha MT-09
2023 Model
Last Service
Apr 2, 2025
Weight
193kg
Power
115hp
Engine
847cc
Edit
My Motorcycles
Add New
Riding Statistics
Weekly
Best Performance
92
pts
Longest Ride
126
mi
Average Speed
64
mph
Total Distance
487
mi
This was the first iteration of the ride tracking screen, designed to prioritize clarity, emergency access, and essential ride data. It was tested with real riders to evaluate visibility, control layout, and cognitive load during rides.
Key Insights
Users preferred a simplified map view during rides
The emergency SOS button had to be visible yet guarded against accidental taps.
Group leaders needed more control features than regular members
Usability Testing
Tested with 8 users: 4 solo riders, 4 group ride leaders.
Evaluated through 5 core ride scenarios using think-aloud testing.
3 rapid feedback loops helped surface safety, visibility, and interaction issues.
Design Changes
Reduced steps to start a ride (from 5 to just 3 taps).
Added voice commands for hands-free operation
Reduced on-screen options during ride mode to focus only on essential controls.
Final Solution
The final solution balances freedom and safety — giving solo and group riders everything they need to track, connect, and stay safe on the road. Every screen and interaction was designed to work in motion, under the sun, and with gloves on.
Key Features
Smart Ride Tracking
Battery-efficient GPS tracking with automatic ride detection, tailored for motorcycle behavior and route preferences.
Group Ride Coordination
Real-time location sharing, waypoint syncing, and group visualization to keep everyone connected on the road.
Safety Features
Built-in emergency systems that prioritize rider protection without adding distraction.
Ride Analytics
Detailed ride statistics, route history, and performance tracking with shareable ride cards.
Key Screens
Home Screen
Personalized dashboard with weather conditions, upcoming group rides, and quick-start solo ride button.
Designed for glove-friendly interaction with large touch targets and high contrast for outdoor visibility
Rider Profile Screen
Displays personal riding stats, bike details, and achievements — allowing riders to build their identity and track growth.
Encourages pride and progress through personalisation, badges, and bike-based identity
Emergency Alert Screen
One-tap SOS with crash detection and location sharing, designed for high-speed activation during crisis moments.
Focused on minimal taps, panic-proof layout, and quick-glance confirmation
Solo Ride Tracking Screen
One-tap SOS with crash detection and location sharing, designed for high-speed activation during crisis moments.
Designed with large buttons, voice-compatible controls, and real-time feedback without distraction
Group Ride Screen
One-tap SOS with crash detection and location sharing, designed for high-speed activation during crisis moments.
Focused on minimal taps, panic-proof layout, and quick-glance confirmation
Leaderboard Screen
Ranks riders by distance, consistency, and achievements within friend groups or the wider community.
Drives engagement through gamified progress, comparison, and motivation
Impact & Learnings
The Ride Along app has been well-received by test users and has demonstrated
significant improvements in the motorcycle riding experience.
User Testing Results
78%
Reported less battery
drain than other apps
95%
Felt safer with the
emergency features
88%
Reported improved group
ride coordination
92%
Found the app easier to
use than existing solution
Based on user testing with
50 riders
"The group ride feature is a game-changer. We used to lose people all the time on group rides, but now everyone stays connected."
Michael, 38
Ride Group Leader
"I love that I can use it with my gloves on. The big buttons and voice commands make it actually usable while riding."
Sarah, 29
Weekend Rider
Personal Learnings
Immersion Leads to Innovation
My weekend rides with local motorcycle groups transformed my understanding of user needs. Experiencing firsthand the challenges of using a phone while riding led to our unique glove-friendly interface design.
Balance Safety and Features
Finding the right balance between providing useful information and minimizing distractions was a constant challenge.
Community Input Is Invaluable
The most innovative features came directly from rider feedback and observing real group rides in action.
Next Steps
Develop motorcycle mount-specific UI optimizations
Integrate with popular motorcycle Bluetooth systems
Expand community features for route sharing and meetups
Add advanced telemetry for performance-focused riders
Personal Reflection
As a solo UX designer on this project, I faced numerous challenges and growth opportunities. Working directly with the motorcycle community taught me the importance of designing for specific contexts and physical constraints. The most rewarding aspect was seeing riders' reactions when testing features that solved real problems they faced on every ride.
This project reinforced my belief that great UX design comes from deep user empathy and iterative testing. By immersing myself in the motorcycle culture and riding alongside users, I gained insights that would have been impossible to discover through traditional research methods alone.