Educating bicycle safety and fostering empathy for cyclists with an affordable and game-based VR app

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a rise in the use of virtual reality (VR) both in specialized fields and commercial settings. Modern applications of VR include games, films, education, arts, and healthcare, etc. Today, VR applications exist beyond expensive research labs; they are being employed to solve real world problems. To explore a new practical application of VR, we designed and prototyped a work-in-progress VR mobile app of common biking incidents in the form of a choose-your-own-adventure game. Our goal is to teach people about bicycle safety in cities, and to foster empathy within the driving community towards cyclists.