UX / UI Conceptual Case Study | April 2025
Fair Fare:
Smart Splits for
Shared Trips
Overview:
Fair Fare reimagines the way we share rides — and the way we share costs.
No silent resentments. Just invisible fairness, at the speed of friendship.
Design Sprint
Client:
-
Role:
User Research,Journey Mapping
Feature Design, Concept Validation
Research Insights & Objectives
Majority of ride-sharing users in Singapore have experienced disputes over fare sharing.
Users prioritize fairness, efficiency and clarity when sharing rides.
Lack of route optimization might compound friction during multi-drop trips.
Current ride-hailing/sharing apps do not have this feature
Design a feature for ride-sharing apps that:
Automatically splits fares based on distance
Optimizes multi-drop routes for efficiency
Provides transparency throughout the journey
Enhances trust and user experience for shared ride
Problem Discovery
Current ride-sharing platforms, such as Grab, offer a "split fare" feature that divides the final fare equally among riders —
without considering the actual distance traveled by each passenger.
This results in:
Inequitable cost distribution between passengers
Unclear transparency in how fares are calculated
Reduced user trust and lower satisfaction with shared rides
Why This Matters
Passengers expect fairness when sharing transportation costs.
Without distance-based splitting, users perceive the system as inaccurate or unfair.
Discourages ride sharing amongst friends, leading to more unnecessary rides, and increased carbon footprint
How might we create a ride-sharing experience that dynamically splits fares based on individual distance traveled — ensuring fairness, improving transparency, and enhancing trust between riders?
User Persona
"I wish splitting a ride could be easier and fuss-free so I don't have to bring it up or feel paiseh (awkward)."
Name: Sarah Lim
Age: 22
Occupation: University Student
Location: Clementi, Singapore
Sarah is a university student who loves social gatherings, late-night suppers, and spontaneous outings. She often shares cab rides with her friends to save money. While she enjoys the social aspects of sharing rides, she finds it awkward to bring up fare splitting after the trip.
Key Needs:
🚖 Affordable, easy ride-splitting built into the app
📱 Seamless, fully cashless payment (no physical cash or separate apps)
🙅♀️ No awkwardness asking friends for money
Pain Points:
❌ Awkward social dynamics — feels embarrassed to chase friends for fare payments
❌ Manual effort — splitting and calculating costs after the ride is messy
❌ Risk of overpaying — sometimes pays more just to "settle it" and avoid conflict
Emotional Journey Mapping
Solution Overview
To address the identified user pain points and system gaps, the solution introduces key features designed around fairness and flexibility:
Distance-Based Fare Splitting
Automatically splits the total fare based on the distance each passenger traveled.
Auto Route Optimization
Calculates the most efficient route for multiple drop-offs, considering traffic and distance.
Transparent Fare Breakdown
Provides a detailed, real-time fare breakdown throughout the trip, viewable by all passengers.
Real-Time Fare Adjustment
Dynamically updates fare splits if drop-off locations are changed mid-trip.
Group Fare Setup
Allows users to invite co-riders before the trip begins, confirming drop-off points and split settings collaboratively.
Fare Estimator (Pre-Trip)
Offers upfront cost previews based on entered destinations, helping users plan and agree on the ride setup confidently.
LoFi Prototype - Key Screens
1. Plan Ride Screen
User enters pickup location and multiple drop-off points.
Distance for each passenger is calculated automatically.
Fare estimate based on individual travel distance is shown.
2. Group Split Setup Screen
Invite passengers via email or shared link.
Passengers confirm their drop-off points and join the ride.
Option to allow passengers to edit their destinations collaboratively.
3. Ride in Progress Screen
Live route map displays trip progression.
Real-time fare split updates dynamically as ride progresses.
Distance traveled and fare percentage shown per passenger.
4. Trip Summary Screen
Detailed trip summary including route map.
Final total fare with distance traveled and individual split amounts.
Option to download receipt or share trip summary.
In conclusion
Fair Fare is a conceptual design exercise focused on improving fairness in ride-sharing. By introducing distance-based fare splitting and real-time route optimization, it reduces user friction, increases transparency, and strengthens trust in shared mobility experiences.