Urbaneel

Idea

In Cyprus, public transport is limited, and most people rely on personal cars. Taxis are expensive, and buses are the only public option — but there’s no reliable app to plan trips or track arrivals. This pushes people to buy or rent cars, adding to traffic and pollution.

The goal was to create a simple, modern bus app to make public transport easier for locals, migrants, and tourists — and encourage broader use, helping drive future improvements to the system.

Research

A public API provides real-time bus data, so I focused on building an MVP for iOS and Android. The goal: show live bus and stop info across the island — giving users reliable, up-to-date transport details from day one.

User acquisition

With no budget, we focused on organic reach:

- Shared the release in relevant Telegram groups to get early support

- Posted on LinkedIn, Instagram, and GitHub to raise awareness

- App Store Optimization (ASO): Refined the description to improve search visibility and reach relevant users

- Designed and launched a website optimized with high-traffic keywords

Downloads

Our efforts boosted app downloads, especially on iOS. Since Android performance lagged, it became a point for upcoming research.​​​​​​​

App Store Optimization (ASO)

Download data confirmed that search drove most installs, proving ASO impact.​​​​​​​

Product improvements

I analyzed similar transport apps to benchmark navigation flows and feature sets. Based on that, and early backlog ideas, I designed the next concept version of the app with the following features:

1. Full route and stop data — display all bus lines and stops across Cyprus.

2. Bus timetables — help users plan trips ahead with scheduled times.

3. Improved visuals — more engaging icons, especially for buses, to enhance the UI.

4. Useful local info — show services like night pharmacies to increase value and make the app a daily tool beyond transport.

5. Route planning — find a way from A to B using public transport. In future, integrate bikes, scooters, and carsharing with route cost estimates.

I created a prototype for interviews and questionnaires to:

Identify key pain points for current and potential users.

Prioritize issues by impact to guide future design and development.

Validate the idea of adding services like pharmacy hours as extra value.

Test the interface for usability, visual appeal, and potential UX issues.

If you’re in Cyprus or planning a visit, feel free to download my app — and if you’ve already tried it, I’d love to hear your feedback!