Speedlit

A distraction-free speedometer built for riders — bold, real-time, and designed to keep you safe on the move.

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🚀 Speedlit

💡 Inspiration

A close friend — a daily rider — sent me a heartfelt message:

“Because of how we use our helmets — I have to tie it where the speedometer is — I find that I need a digital one on my phone. But scarcely will you find one where you can pay say a one-time $2 and use without ads. The use of a speedometer is for it to be always on display, not for the user to be hustling to press little 'x' or elusive cancel/close buttons without getting into an accident.”

That single message hit hard. Riders shouldn't have to fight with ads or tap tiny buttons just to know how fast they're going. Speedometers are about safety — not monetization.

So I set out to build a pure, distraction-free speedometer — big digits, immediate launch, and zero clutter. That’s how Speedlit was born.

⚙️ What it does

Speedlit is a fullscreen, real-time speedometer app for riders — especially those on motorbikes, scooters, or bicycles — who need:

  • Bold, always-on speed display (in km/h or mph)
  • Zero ads, popups, or distractions
  • No login, no tracking, no nonsense
  • Auto-start as soon as the app loads and GPS permission is granted

It’s designed to be mounted on a rider’s phone dashboard and just do one thing extremely well: Show your speed clearly and safely.

🛠 How we built it

Speedlit was built in a single shot using @boltdotnew. Here’s what powers it:

  • Frontend: Vite React JS
  • GPS Tracking: navigator.geolocation.watchPosition for real-time speed
  • Units: Simple toggle between km/h and mph, saved in localStorage
  • Responsive UI: Auto-resizing speed digits, optimized for mobile in both portrait and landscape
  • UX: Zero interaction required to start — works right after GPS permission

It’s 100% client-side. No backend. No analytics. Just pure speed.

🧗 Challenges we ran into

  • Scaling typography: Making the speed digit fit perfectly on every screen — from small phones to large tablets — was tricky.
  • Staying minimalist: Every UI element had to earn its place. Even the unit toggle had to be big enough not to be a hazard.

🏆 Accomplishments that we're proud of

  • Turned a friend’s real-world safety need into a functional tool — in a single session.
  • Created a true “zero friction” rider experience.
  • Fully responsive, fullscreen app with zero ads and maximum clarity.
  • Delivered on the promise: If even toddlers can build with AI tools now — then let’s build something that actually matters.

📚 What we learned

  • Design for motion: Speedlit made me think like a rider — gloves, sunlight, vibrations — and build for those conditions.
  • Simplicity is hard: Removing features is tougher than adding them, especially when you're used to bloated apps.
  • Intentional UI saves lives: A misplaced button, an unexpected popup — these aren’t just annoying. They’re dangerous.

🔮 What's next for Speedlit

  • Detect ride type (bike vs scooter vs motorbike) using motion or user selection.
  • Optional night mode for better visibility in low light.
  • Offline PWA install support so it runs like a native app on any phone.
  • Subtle ride stats (e.g. max speed) displayed only after a ride ends.
  • And maybe, just maybe — a one-time $2 version with no internet needed at all.

Speedlit is the kind of app we wish already existed. It doesn’t just show speed — it respects it. Because on the road, every distraction is a risk. This might just save lives.

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