From Willmar Hack2.o Sep 2015

1. Willmar Yellow Bike
Yellow Bike Program Goes Digital
A free bike share program called Yellow Bike launched May 2015 in Willmar!
Willmar Community Education and Recreation, along with the
Willmar Lakes Area Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, the
Statewide Health Improvement Program and the Jennie-O Turkey Store have teamed
up to bring this wonderful program to our town. The Yellow Bike program will encourage
community members and visitors of Willmar to enjoy the city by bike.

2. Willmar Yellow Bike
Yellow Bike Program Goes Digital
A free bike share program called Yellow Bike launched May 2015 in Willmar!
Willmar Community Education and Recreation, along with the
Willmar Lakes Area Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, the Statewide Health Improvement
Program and the Jennie-O Turkey Store have teamed up to bring this wonderful
program to our town. The Yellow Bike program will encourage community members and
visitors of Willmar to enjoy the city by bike.

3. Primary Problem & Solution
PROBLEM:
We identified a few problems
including:
1.Some bike racks are found
empty, and others overly full
2.Bikes are occasionally found
abandoned or broken and there is
no simple way for the public to
report the issue.
3.There is no existing data about
usage patterns and travel areas
SOLUTION:
A mobile app which provides the following specific
functions, as well as additional information about the
program:
1.Allow users to check-in/check-out bikes and at the same
time report the quantity of bikes at a given rack.
2.Allow anyone to scan and report a broken or abandoned
bike.
3.The collection of data from check-in/check-out could help
give clues to travel patterns

4. Business Model & Approach
• This is a community based mobile app, offered free of charge for the
benefit of the users of the Yellow Bikes, and for the partners who
manage the program.
• The hope is that the app will help encourage accountability among
users, ease of participation from the general public (in reporting found
bikes, for example) and valuable information about location and
usage patterns of the bikes.

5. Project Application & Details
• Mobile friendly application with a clean and easy to use interface
allowing users to go to a URL or scan a QR code located on each
bike. This will identify the specific bike number, and gather GPS
information from the phone about the location of the bike (including
rack location if they are checking in/out). Signage will also be placed
at each rack location with information about the mobile app.
• From within the application users can quickly select which action they
would like to take, and any subsequent reporting options.
• Submit data with a single click

6. An example of the sticker label that would be on each bike.
Additional Project Details

7. Possible bike rack sign language
Additional Project Details

8. Competitive Advantage & Value
• This app is specific to the local Yellow Bike program. It is customized
to the specific needs of the community, and utilizes low-cost
technology (with possible future RFID integration for additional cost).
• The application may be used in other communities offering similar
programs involving voluntary sharing (could be items other than
bikes).

9. Future Needs & Potential
SHORT TERM NEEDS:
The application requires a hosting
location, stickers for the bikes that
contain the app information and QR
code, and possibly rack signage.
Administrative staff would then have
back-end access to view stats and
reports.
LONG TERM NEEDS:
The system still relies entirely on
voluntary action. Future
implementation of RFID stickers
could allow more automation of data
collection (such as bike count at a
given rack) by doing periodic
sweeps.

10. Cory Dingels dingels35@gmail.com
Justin Mattern jmm@etapmarketing.com
Larry Handlin lbhandli@gmail.com
Tim Newberg tim_newberg@yahoo.com
Mary Magnuson memagnuson@blandinfoundation.org
Nathan Klatt n8klatt@gmail.com
Contact Information