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The group that has chosen to design a mobile gathering space focused on “play” and “cycling” has been doing a great job of researching the user and understanding the constraints + opportunities. Early on we noted that they were leading the research, and since then have owned letting the research lead them instead. By doing that they found out about the culture and lifestyle of cyclists, as well as a need for a social gathering space/hub for group rides.
Interviewing an employee at Hokie Spokes revealed that when gathering for a ride, they all seek out the one small patch of grass to protect the metal clips on the bottom of their riding shoes and protect themselves from slipping. This opens up the potential for the creative use of surface materials with a purpose.
Saturday morning they observed and interviewed a VT cycling club as they gathered for a group ride at Bollo’s Cafe & Bakery. Jon Taylor and I stopped back their later in the day for our afternoon espresso fix and coincidentally met some of those same riders. Reid and Andrew were nice enough to share more thoughts, revealing opportunities for social interaction with the hub (most of which they had already shared with the students). Cycling advocacy for the public and ride etiquette/education for the cyclists is an opp. About 7oo adults and 250 children cyclists die each year from automobile accidents. Centralized and available ride maps, trail tips and schedules would be beneficial. It would also be a central place to gather for club meetings. These came from asking more about their culture, interests, lifestyle and routine than the typical ” If you had a place like this what could you use it for?”
Thanks again Reid and Andrew, ride on!
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KEM STUDIO-VIRGINIA TECH: INTEGRATED DESIGN STUDIO 