Pedalling into the Future: Towards Enhancing Cycling Experience
Using Augmented Reality
Linjia He

linjia.he@monash.edu
Exertion Games Lab, Department of
Human-Centred Computing, Monash
University
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Hongyue Wang

hongyue@exertiongameslab.org
Exertion Games Lab, Department of
Human-Centred Computing, Monash
University
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Benjamin Tag

benjamin.tag@monash.edu
Embodied Visualisation Lab,
Department of Human-Centred
Computing, Monash University
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Sarah Goodwin

sarah.goodwin@monash.edu
Embodied Visualisation Lab,
Department of Human-Centred
Computing, Monash University
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Don Samitha Elvitigala

don.elvitigala@monash.edu
Exertion Games Lab, Department of
Human-Centred Computing, Monash
University
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Figure 1: An illustration of two themes: (a) navigation and exploration, where AR glasses provide cyclists with surrounding
information; (b) group cycling optimization, where a pair of cyclists share each other’s location

ABSTRACTThe heightened emphasis on a healthy and sustainable lifestyle has
led to a surge in the popularity of cycling and an increased interest
in integrating emerging technologies into the cycling experience.
Despite its promising potential and the advancements in leveraging
Augmented Reality (AR) for cycling assistance, a significant gap
exists in understanding cyclists’ perspectives, preferences, and concerns regarding AR technology. This paper aims to address this gap

through in-depth interviews with eight cyclists, seeking to uncoverpotential benefits and challenges across six themes. These themes
encompass addressing safety concerns, optimising navigation andtraining performance, facilitating biomechanical adjustments, andenhancing group cycling dynamics. We anticipate that the initialinsights gained from these interviews will guide future researchersand practitioners interested in exploring the intersection of cycling
and AR technology.

CCS CONCEPTS
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution International
4.0 License.
DIS Companion ’24, July 01–05, 2024, IT University of Copenhagen, Denmark© 2024 Copyright held by the owner/author(s).
ACM ISBN 979-8-4007-0632-5/24/07
https://doi.org/10.1145/3656156.3663699• Human-centered computing → Mixed / augmented reality.

KEYWORDS
Cycling experience, cyclists, cycleHCI, interaction design, augmented reality

DIS Companion ’24, July 01–05, 2024, IT University of Copenhagen, Denmark

ACM Reference Format:
Linjia He, Hongyue Wang, Sarah Goodwin, Benjamin Tag, and Don Samitha
Elvitigala. 2024. Pedalling into the Future: Towards Enhancing Cycling Experience Using Augmented Reality. In Designing Interactive Systems Conference(DIS Companion ’24), July 01–05, 2024, IT University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
ACM, New York, NY, USA, 5 pages. https://doi.org/10.1145/3656156.3663699

1

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

Cycling enjoys an increasingly growing popularity thanks to promoting a healthy and sustainable lifestyle in today’s society. This
rise in interest is further accentuated by the emergence of new technologies, contributing to a noticeable increase in cycling-related
research. Augmented Reality (AR) emerges as a key technology
transforming the cycling experience, offering novel ways to assist
cyclists [10, 14]. For instance, AR applications have been developed to provide real-time visualizations that assist cyclists at intersections [10], and alert them to potential hazards [14]. While
pioneering studies showcase the potential of AR in improving cycling experiences, they primarily focus on empirical testing of new
systems. This approach may not fully capture cyclists’ needs, possibly limiting the optimal utilisation of AR in the cycling context.
Although previous research has delved into cyclists’ attitudes towards urban commuting experiences [11] and interactions with
automated vehicles [1], there remains a notable gap in achieving
a comprehensive understanding of cyclists’ perspectives, preferences, and concerns with AR technology. Therefore, we argue forthe necessity of conducting in-depth research that prioritizes understanding cyclists’ viewpoints.
This work investigates how AR technologies, especially headmounted displays (HMDs), can be employed to augment the cycling
experience. Through in-depth interviews with eight cyclists, wetake the first step to bridge the existing gap by presenting firsthandperspectives on integrating AR technologies in cycling, uncovering
potential benefits and challenges that prior studies might overlook. Understanding how cyclists perceive and interact with AR
technology can guide researchers, designers, and developers increating user-centred AR applications that enhance rather thandisrupt the cycling experience. Hence, we believe our exploration
will contribute to the future advancements of AR implementations
in cycling scenarios.

2

METHODOLOGYOur goal is to achieve a deep understanding of cyclists and explore
the ways in which AR technology can enrich the cycling experience.
To accomplish this, we conducted semi-structured interviews andperformed a complete data analysis using thematic analysis [3]. This
study was approved by the university’s Human Ethics Committee.
Participants. We recruited participants via flyers posted on social
media or from personal contacts. We sought participants who arerecreational or experienced cyclists. Individuals who only knew
how to cycle without a deeper involvement in the activity were
excluded from this study. In total, eight participants (one female)
were recruited. Among them, five cycle daily, three weekly. Geographically, five primarily cycled in Australia, one each hailed from
Finland, Spain, and China. In assessing their expertise, participants
self-rated on a scale from 1 (non-professional) to 7 (professional),
resulting in four ratings of 3 and the remaining four with ratings ofLinjia He, Hongyue Wang, Sarah Goodwin, Benjamin Tag, and Don Samitha Elvitigala

1, 4, 5, and 6, respectively. Notably, five participants self-identified
as early adopters of technology. While age was not specificallyqueried, three participants fall within the 18-24 age category, four
are aged 25-34, and one is in the 35-44 age group. This deliberate
recruitment with varying levels enables us to gain a more comprehensive understanding of varied perspectives. Details of thedemographic results can be found in supplementary documents.
Procedure and Data Analysis. Interviews were conducted individually either in-person or online, began with a consent form
outlining recording and quotation usage. We started with a demographic questionnaire, followed by a series of open-ended questions.
These questions delved into their cycling experiences, the information or assistance they need during cycling, their understandingof AR technologies, and more. Each interview had a duration of
approximately 30-60 minutes. Audio recordings were made withparticipants’ consent for transcription and analysis. The first author conducted the coding process, following an iterative process
involving reassessment and merging of codes. Once established,
the codes were sorted into thematic categories, and the initial categorization of themes was discussed and reviewed by all authors.
NVivo was used as the tool for categorising, coding, and analysing
the interview data. As a result, we ended up with six themes, as
discussed in the next section.

3

FINDINGS

We highlight six key themes that have emerged from a thoroughanalysis of the interview data, offering valuable insights into thevaried perspectives of cyclists regarding integrating AR into their
cycling experiences. The following subsection provides a detailed
exploration of these themes. Figure 1 shows an illustration of twothemes.

3.1

Theme 1: Road Safety Enhancement

Road safety enhancement emerged as a prominent theme across all
interviews, reflecting a collective concern among cyclists for roadsafety, particularly in urban environments.
"When I first got to Australia, I was unsure about cycling rules,
like riding without a bike lane. One day, I was riding on the roadwithout a lane, a car honked and whizzed by, making me uneasy. ...
Cyclists need to know the rules, but Google Maps doesn’t cover thatwhen you’re riding." (P2)
Participants consider AR glasses a valuable tool for providing
visual cues related to road conditions and the proximity of otherroad users, ultimately enhancing safety. In addition, P7 stated "I
have a taillight with the radar that detects the car coming behind,but I don’t think it’s very useful, because even with the warning, you
don’t know if it’s going to speed up or slow down, and you can’t see it".
They anticipate that AR glasses could provide real-time reminders
about road conditions at intersections or offer an intuitive displayof rear vehicles. This aligns with prior endeavours, which predominantly revolve around warning systems [10, 14]. While these initiatives open up possibilities for real-time feedback and assistanceusing AR glasses, their scope is primarily confined to controlled
in-lab experiments. Bridging the divide between laboratory-based
research and real-world applications is essential to validate the efficacy and usability of AR glasses in diverse cycling environments.

Pedalling into the Future: Towards Enhancing Cycling Experience Using Augmented Reality

Although conducting experiments in naturalistic (here: outdoor)
settings poses inherent challenges, future studies can explore a setof controlled field trials that enable ramp-up from lab experiments
to comprehensive in-the-wild studies.

3.2

Theme 2: Navigation and Exploration

Participants consistently voiced concerns about navigational challenges. Two participants (P3, P8) relied on audio navigation but
struggled with ambient traffic noise, suggesting a need for clearer(visual) cues. Others (P1, P2, P4, P5, P6, P7) faced challenges withmobile or bike computer navigation, especially at complex intersections. Consequently, participants see AR glasses as a promising
tool to improve navigation and enhance exploration.
All participants unanimously highlighted the need for precise
indications and route guidance, identifying AR glasses as an effective solution. Meanwhile, participants stressed the significance of
personalised route navigation aligned with individual preferences.
For instance, P3 noted "Sometimes when I want to commute, Google
Maps directs me to those bike-specific trails, which can be a detour. I’m
not really into those routes because sticking to regular roads is faster.
Plus, on those trails, there are pedestrians, so you can’t really pedal
fast, and I worry about accidentally running into someone". On theother hand, P5 prioritizes ’fun’ in their route choice, as they stated"When I plan the route, I try to plan a route that is not the shortestor quickest but the most fun one. Usually, a route that is green ismore fun than a very urban route." Accordingly, participants desired
AR route recommendations that provide details on road conditions
and estimated cycling time. Noting that while the Strava app (aplatform for tracking and sharing fitness achievements) offers someof these features, integrating AR could enhance the experienceby offering immersive information on-the-go. Furthermore, participants expressed a keen interest in immersive explorations ofsurrounding information, pointing out "even if the route is familiar,
I might have no idea about the surroundings" (P5). These views highlight the preference of offering personalised recommendations andcomprehensive environmental information.
While AR navigation has been extensively studied in areas suchas automotive and pedestrian navigation, there remains a notable
gap in research concerning its application in highly dynamic activities like cycling. Currently, research in this area is in its earlystages, primarily consisting of conceptual models [6]. To advancethe field, future investigations could thoroughly explore this aspect,possibly incorporating personalized navigation systems to enrich
the immersive exploration experience.

3.3

Theme 3: Entertainment and Gamification

Recreational cyclists (P2, P8) expressed a keen interest in incorporating entertainment features into their rides. Drawing inspirationfrom popular apps like Pokémon Go, they envision an AR cycling
experience that blends the joy of exploration such as "collecting
golden coins". Additionally, participants also expected to "browse
my Spotify playlists during rides", envisioning the potential of using
AR glasses to amplify overall enjoyment.
Previous research has primarily concentrated on elevating theindoor cycling experience through Virtual Reality (VR) [2]. Aapplications like Strava also incorporated gamification aspects by

DIS Companion ’24, July 01–05, 2024, IT University of Copenhagen, Denmark

assigning virtual awards based on timed segments of routes. However, the potential of using AR HMDs in cycling remains relatively
unexplored. Unlike VR, implementing AR gamification in cycling
poses unique challenges, with safety considerations taking precedence. Achieving a secure integration of gamification and interaction within AR cycling experiences will need to address safetyconcerns, such as real-time environment detection and the incorporation of instant hazard alerts. Moreover, effective interaction
design requires further exploration, as a crucial aspect of successful
gamification implementation. While progress has been made inunderstanding cycling interaction [7, 9], a thorough examinationis required to integrate AR-enhanced gamification elements while
prioritizing safety and user experience.

3.4

Theme 4: Personal Training and Exercise
Metrics

Participants, particularly those passionate about exercising andimproving cycling skills (P1, P3, P4, P5, P6, P7), highlighted thesignificance of personal training metrics. Currently, they use different devices such as bike computers, smart-watches, heart ratemonitors, etc., to record and monitor their training data. While generally satisfied with these devices, there is a collective sentimentthat adopting AR glasses could yield benefits, including mitigating
the risk associated with looking down and improving the intuitiveness of data presentation. Interestingly, despite recognising thepotential utility of data visualisation through AR glasses, none of
the interviewed individuals had encountered any recently released
commercial products, like [5]. This apparent lack of adoption canbe attributed to perceived functional limitations when compared tothe currently favoured bike computer, as well as safety concerns. "I
reckon it’s a bit more gimmicky than practical at the moment. It’s got
the same functions as my regular bike computer, so I wouldn’t shellout for it unless it comes with super-strong security warnings andsome extra features. Of course, the most important thing is that I needto know if it’s safe to wear", P4 said, even though they self-identified
as an early adopter of new technologies. This underscores the needfor thoughtful design of data displays on AR glasses. Achieving
a balance between delivering valuable information and preventing visual distractions becomes crucial in designing AR systems
for cycling. Therefore, future studies should address functional
limitations and emphasise safety features.

3.5

Theme 5: Biomechanical Studies andScientific Cycling

Experienced cyclists (P1, P3, P6, P7) emphasized the importance ofriding postures and bike fitting for preventing injuries and enhancing comfort, performance, and efficiency. Biomechanical experts
currently utilize force sensors and motion capture to analyze cyclists’ joint angles, body positions, and movements. Participants
view AR as a valuable tool in this process. "Currently, they (biomechanical experts) use computers to visualize what is happening anddecide how to adjust the bike to fit properly, and I believe that there
should be a lot of potential using AR to have more situated informationand more real-time information of what is happening with the measure that these biomechanical experts are getting" (P6). In this context,
AR could provide visual feedback on how adjustments affect bodyDIS Companion ’24, July 01–05, 2024, IT University of Copenhagen, Denmark

mechanics, offering instant validation. Furthermore, participantsalso emphasised the importance of receiving reminders to adjust
their postures while riding. "Because, like, when you’re on the road,
it could be a few hours straight, and holding the same position for along time might mess you up in places, you know. So, I’m hoping forsomething that can give you a heads-up" (P7).
Prior work incorporated visual [13] or auditory [12] feedback
for scientific training. However, the use of AR HMDs remains unexplored, holding high potential to transform cycling into a more
effective form of exercise, mitigating the risk of improper body
postures leading to inefficiencies.

3.6

Theme 6: Group Cycling Optimisation

Group cycling, a popular and valued activity, benefits greatly from
optimized dynamics. Participants see AR technology as a key enhancer for group rides, particularly in maintaining awareness ofeach cyclist’s location and providing shared views. "When we’reriding in a group, some folks are faster, some slower. It’d be great if thefaster ones could know where the slower ones are in real-time and wait
up for them" (P3). "When at the back, you often rely on hand signals
from the front, but sudden stops or unexpected obstacles are hard tocommunicate immediately. If the front person brakes suddenly, we
might collide. Sharing vision could really help avoid accidents in suchsituations" (P4). In addition, participants expressed the prospectof AR offering real-time metrics of leading riders in team competitions, enabling those at the rear to visualise their peers’ efforts.
"When you are doing, especially in competition, the people in front
are wasting a lot of energy, and the people in the back are savingenergy. If people in the back are aware of the capacity of the front,
they can make a decision on when to take the front and give them time
to rest" (P6). This holds promise for fostering more strategic andenergy-efficient group cycling. While prior research has exploredenhancing group collaboration in cycling through helmets [15],the use of AR remains relatively under-explored. This presents an
exciting area for potential exploration in future studies.

3.7

Design Insights

Overall, participants anticipate AR technology holds promise forrevolutionizing the riding experience, offering advancements insafety, navigation, training, biomechanical analysis, and group dynamics. However, challenges have been identified, particularly concerning the practicality of AR glasses, and the potential distraction
caused by the virtual information. Derived from the insights acquired, we present recommendations and provide guidance on thedesign of forthcoming developments.
Robust Design. Participants emphasised the importance of designfor AR glasses, focusing on aspects such as comfort, lens selection,weight, and more. Concerns about the durability of AR glasses,
particularly their susceptibility to damage and potential data loss
after a fall, were highlighted. Additionally, nearsighted participants
raised issues related to the degree of correction of AR lenses.
Attention and Cognition. Safety concerns of wearing AR glasses
appear through all the themes, which surfaced as a crucial factor. Determining whether AR glasses are intended to "enhance
security" or inadvertently "trigger security incidents" requires anuanced understanding of human perception, especially attention

Linjia He, Hongyue Wang, Sarah Goodwin, Benjamin Tag, and Don Samitha Elvitigala

and cognition. Previous investigation of AR and its impact on human attention has predominantly focused on indoor or automotive
environments [4], however, there is a need to investigate how AR
interfaces affect attentional resources and cognitive processes indynamic, real-world cycling environments.
Multi-modal Integration and Interaction. Participants emphasised
the necessity of directing a significant portion of visual attention
to the road while cycling. Given that AR primarily conveys information visually, there was a demand for supplementary feedback,including auditory and haptic elements, to complement visual cues.
This aligns with previous attempts [8] and highlights the need tofurther investigate AR interaction methodologies [7, 9].
Personalisation, Intelligence, and Credibility. Participants expresseda desire for user-defined information display options, primarily
when focusing solely on the cycling experience without being inundated with data. The development of artificial intelligence technology raises hopes for equipment that understands individual
preferences, emphasising the need for intelligence in system design.
However, participants indicated a cautious reliance on smart devices to avoid excessive trust in danger warnings. This underscores
the necessity to enhance the accuracy of system design while considering cyclists’ acceptance and trust in support systems, in linewith previous findings [10, 14].

4

LIMITATION AND CONCLUSION

While we aim to include a diverse range of participants across backgrounds and expertise levels, our current sample size is relatively
small and predominantly consists of Australian participants. We
also acknowledge limitations in age and gender representation.
Due to the constraints of our small sample size, we were unable
to conduct an in-depth analysis of distinctions between different
types of cycling, such as competitive versus recreational, nor did
we delve into participants’ prior exposure to AR technology. Consequently, these factors may impact the interpretation of our findings.
Therefore, future investigations should prioritize obtaining a more
extensive and diverse dataset, encompassing participants from diverse geographical locations, age ranges, and gender identities.
Additionally, deeper exploration into various aspects such as different types of cycling should be undertaken to uncover potentiallyvaluable insights.
Furthermore, while our paper presents themes derived frominterview results, we did not fully develop and evaluate AR prototypes tailored for specific cycling scenarios. Subsequent studies
could concentrate on prototype evaluation, utilizing quantitative
methods such as surveys to gather more extensive data.
Given the evolving landscape of technology, comprehending
cyclist preferences and expectations becomes imperative for the
integration of AR solutions in the cycling community. Therefore,
our work contributes by identifying research themes and design
insights aimed at guiding the exploration of AR applications toenhance the cycling experience.

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