Inspiration
The design of our website was inspired by arcade style retro games, and our passion for biking, Web development, Frontend and UI development
What it does
The platform transforms everyday cycling around UMass into an engaging, game-like experience. It features: A difficulty-based route system that lets cyclists choose their challenge level: Easy Mode provides gentle, beginner-friendly campus routes Medium Mode introduces moderate hills and extended paths Hard Mode offers challenging elevations and longer distances God Mode unlocks extreme trails for elite cyclists
Each route comes with: Full path visualization and navigation Real-time tracking of your progress Elevation profiles and distance metrics
The platform serves dual purposes: it helps cyclists find appropriate routes based on their skill level while adding gaming elements that make regular campus commuting more engaging and motivating. Whether you're a casual rider looking for the safest path to class or an experienced cyclist seeking new challenges, the system provides tailored routes that match your abilities and goals.
How we built it
We used HTML, CSS, and JS. We used Strava to collect data for bike rides in and around UMass
Challenges we ran into
We started late and struggled to come up with ideas that we could realistically finish in the time we had.
What we learned
Difficulty-based segmentation is essential for broad appeal - from beginners to expert cyclists. This helps cater to the diverse UMass student population, from first-time riders to experienced athletes. Gamification elements (achievements, badges, leaderboards) can transform routine campus commuting into an engaging experience. This is particularly relevant for the student demographic who are familiar with gaming mechanics. Combining practical utility (route finding, navigation) with entertainment (quests, achievements) creates a more compelling value proposition than either aspect alone. Campus-specific features are crucial - emphasizing UMass locations and routes makes the platform immediately relevant to its target users rather than being a generic cycling app. The gaming-style language and presentation (Easy Mode, God Mode, etc.) resonates with the student demographic while making complex features (like route difficulty) more approachable and understandable. This project demonstrates how taking everyday activities (campus cycling) and adding game-like elements can create a more engaging and motivating experience while still serving practical purposes.
What's next for UMass Cycling Routes
If we were to update it we would make the site could automatically generate new routes instead of giving preexisting routes. This was an idea we considered but we decided against it because of the complexity.
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