Bike Sharing QR Code Geofencing — Implementation of Infrastructure
As results of bicycle-sharing licensing has been released and fleets being reduced, the Land Transport Authority has been busy implementing a new feature islandwide to hopefully deter indiscriminate shared bicycle parking, the QR (Quick Response) Codes.
Introducing the (new) QR codes
A printed sticker pasted on a sheet of metal, these QR codes comes with a 3 alphabet location code followed by a seemingly random 4 alphanumerical characters to identify the station. This code identifies the bicycle parking, yet made it hard to guess the exact location of it or the next consecutive stations.
These codes are pasted at every possible bicycle parking rack or box, requiring a user to lock the dockless bike and scan the QR code, cross checking the location of the user with the QR code, before giving an all clear.
This approach is radically different to those of other countries where measures to curb indiscriminate shared bicycle parking typically includes designated parking boxes or vague guidelines of legal parking areas in public areas. On a larger scale, such a project would’ve been close to impossible, to catalogue every single parking station in the nation and to print QR codes.
Possible drawbacks of the system
One possible issue with the system is that users could use GPS spoofing to fake the location of the device, then to scan a QR code originating from the fake location taken earlier. Although it is impossible to design around such ill intents, such factors should also be considered into whether the system would be a success.
Users without cameras on phones might also be unable to scan the QR code unless text input is available, bicycle sharing operators should ensure that applications could accept text input of such location codes, similar to manually keying the bicycle number to request an unlock code.
Users using a particular bicycle sharing operator might be able to end the trip and scan the location QR code without physically locking the bicycle. As long as the flaw is not patched, such exploits could still be used and indiscriminate parking could still continue.
Design of the QR Code Plate
The QR code is not easily identifiable as there is no special features to help differentiate from a normal sign.
Standardised symbols help to capture the attention of a user and to locate the QR code as shown in the improved mockup. The QR code should also include a name indicating its purpose, for new users who are unaware by the outreach posters and campaign and to differentiate it from QR codes that are used for security guards to mark their patrol route.
Good design goes a long way, while such impact is unmeasurable as compared to measurable proxmity or number of parking lots, every step should be possible to improve the experience of users, making it as hassle-free to lock bikes, while curbing indiscriminate parking.
The results speaks for itself and users would be more willing to compromise and spend slightly more time to lock their bikes to ensure a clean and orderly streetscape devoid of indiscriminately parked bikes.
Conclusion
While the rollout of such infrastructure is ongoing and actual use of the QR codes is inactive, all possible drawbacks and flaws should be corrected, if possible, to ensure the maximum possible effectiveness of such geofencing technology, which could revolutionise the ideal dockless bicycle sharing system for any city.
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