Building a Better Website
A quick guide to building a better web presence for Transport operators
TransitGraphics can provide customers with the main aspects of what an effective and efficient transport operator’s website should provide. This can include:
1. A Review of other cities’ web presences.
2. Possible customer interactions and experiences.
3. Recommendations to take forward for inclusion in a new website.
The main criteria TransitGraphics considers when building new websites for our customers or providing recommendations for their internal or external web designers include:
- keeing sites simple, simple, simple
- inspiring confidence in the system from a simple and easy to navigate layout
- ensure the site meets the needs of everyday users, encourage occasional users and help non-users/tourists to plan a seamless journey
- allows for mobile phone viewing capabilities
- meets any DDA requirements
- incorporates the branding
- will have a great user interface
- utilises an uncomplicated trip planner.
The importance of DDA should be considered especially since many users of public transport may have visual impairment or a disability. Therefore, any new or refreshed website should include:
KISS – Keep it simple stupid!
- a need to understand the needs of the vision impaired
- resizable text size
- changeable screen contrast, white with black text, black with white text where possible
- ability to use tab and space bar to navigate website
- ability to print screen sections
- quick links or index of site sections on homepage
- screen reader indexing for vision impaired
- no flash or fancy plug-ins.
Landing Page necessities:
It’s not about looking beautiful, it’s more about being functional! Operators should think to:
- adopt new transport mode colour scheme
- simple trip finder interface
- mode service status widgets
- limit visual pollution or “fancy designs”
- easy to navigate menu structure
- clean template
- mobile viewing implications.
Customers should also consider customised user interfaces:
Fast access to regular journey patterns
- Registration by users to gather their details.
- Ability to plan or see next trip information using a variety of modes and mode combinations which are specified by the user.
- Ability to target users with tailored promotions or information.
- Ability to print planned information tailored to the specific users needs.
When building or using a trip planner, always remember:
It’s all about mode connectivity – bus/train/tram
- Simple and easy to use.
- Ability to plan a trip using a variety of modes and mode combinations.
- Ability to add additional user material such as downloadable pdfs, maps and guides for locations, ie Transport Access Guide for University etc.
- Ability to print planned information and options quickly and easily.
