Gecko Cycling Navigation [Work-in-Progress]
Spring 2026 capstone project
A new way of looking at cycling navigation: with a product system that focuses on easy, safe, and destination-based exploration via smart generated routes.
Focusing on a novel user interface and product interaction that enhances the offline experience of riding a bike.
Problem
American cities were not built for cyclists. Infrastructure is inconsistent, routes are unpredictable, and navigating means either memorizing directions beforehand or pulling out a phone mid-ride. Neither option belongs on a bike.
Insight
Cyclists want to feel safe and free at the same time. Exploration on a bike comes from the head, not a screen, and the best ride is one where the technology disappears into the background. Voice-prompted navigation and ambient interfaces are an emerging space that cycling has not yet fully claimed.
Intent
A three-part ecosystem designed so a phone never needs to leave a pocket. A head unit with a backlit dotted display provides visual cues without feeling like a screen, keeping the experience analog in spirit. A clip-on microphone lets the rider speak a destination or mood and receive a smartly generated route with points of interest along the way. A rear light with sensor monitors traffic and alerts the rider to anything approaching, while a front sensor and light complete the safety loop.
Solution
Work-in-progress.
Validation
