Skyline Solution
The collaboration began by assembling a cross-functional team comprised of members from BCycle and Skyline. The team utilized Scrum to deliver high-quality requirements in an iterative process. This allowed BCycle to see results earlier, foresee and quickly adapt to high-risk items, and keep the project on schedule and within budget.
To develop the mobile app, Skyline utilized Xamarin as the main mobile development tool and MapBox to solve the mapping challenges. BCycle had an existing cloud-based backend API, which coordinated communication between the existing kiosks and the database. This API was enhanced to support the needs of the mobile app and to facilitate communication between the app and the kiosks.
Through the API, the app can intelligently query the kiosks for information such as the number of available bikes for check out or empty docking slots for bike return. The app, website, and backend services were enhanced to provide a seamless and single sign-on experience for users of the app and other applications.
Full features include:
- GPS data from ride collected in app, posted securely to BCycle via API.
- GPS visualizations so riders can see diagrams of previous rides.
- Maps and directions to nearest kiosk or point of interest, e.g. "How can I use a BCycle to get from my hotel to the museum?"
- Retrieval of bike/dock availability.
- Walkup single ride membership at system kiosks with “join now” feature and ID validation.
- Mobile secured payment integration via credit card in PCI compliant manner. System allows for initial sign-up fee collection, subsequent charges for usage fees incurred and processes refunds as needed.
- Mobile Unlock System for a quicker bike checkout, obviating the need for users to carry credit cards or RFID key fobs.
- Multi-city navigation and integration.
- Notification options in app: bike checked in successfully, warnings for usage fees, promotions, etc.
- Support specific branding based on location.
- Sponsor integrations.
- Contact local customer service.
The Results
Since its release, the BCycle app has shown tremendous popularity and growth across the country. The app already supports around 30,000 unique users per month.
Skyline’s solution drives the user experience from users’ phones, providing payment, mapping, and notifications while seamlessly integrating the mobile, kiosk and bicycle data with BCycle’s cloud-based software.
Since the beginning of the project, Skyline has supported the app and BCycle team through multiple app iterations, releases, and ongoing enhancements. BCycle continues to look to Skyline for expertise and forethought, and is committed to building on the foundation put in place by the new app to enhance the bike sharing user experience everywhere.