4A - Forming An Opportunity Belief

1.) I believe there is an opportunity to expand the amount of lane's for Museum Road to improve traffic flow.

2.) This unmet need stems from the fact that every day there are multiple traffic spikes on Museum Road due to classes and work that there is stand still traffic many times throughout the day. The need for improved traffic flow would include all of the students and faculty who drive through Museum, which consists of a large population. This need stems from Museum only being a two lane road (one on each side), and there is constantly backed up traffic from the stop lights and pedestrian cross-walks combined with the large amount of vehicular traffic. Currently, nothing is being done to fix this problem, Museum's traffic problems aren't being fixed and I think that this problem being fixed would be greatly beneficial. I am 80% sure that this opportunity exists, the need is definitely there, however, the spatial issues with expanding Museum are definitely relevant as well.

Interview 1: Ryan Gleason, UF Student:

           

1.     Do you ever get caught in the traffic when going to classes?

a.     “Absolutely, especially on the way to the new Physics building.

2.     How often does this affect you per week?

a.     “Twice per week, however, last semester it was five times a week.”

3.     How long does this delay you when it affects you?

a.     “I would be able to get to class 10 minutes sooner if the traffic wasn’t as bad.”

4.     Has this ever caused you to be late to important events?

a.     “Yes, a couple times it’s caused me to be late to a couple things.”

Interview 2: Conrad Ager, UF Student:

1.     Do you ever get caught in the traffic when going to classes?

a.     “Yes, especially my class in Norman, which requires me to go all the way through Museum. Sometimes I’m late even when I leave early to account for the traffic.”

2.     How often does this affect you per week?

a.     “Four times; I have 3 classes in Norman a week as well as Dance Marathon and YLC meetings.”

3.     How long does this delay you when it affects you?

a.     “About 5 to 10 minutes every time that it affects me.”

4.     Has this ever caused you to be late to important events?

a.     “Yes, I’ve been late to multiple DM meetings this semester alone from the traffic.”

Interview 3: Vincent Altino, UF Student:

1.     Do you ever get caught in the traffic when going to classes?

a.     “100%, definitely, constantly. On my way to Good Life last semester it was unbearable.

2.     How often does this affect you per week?

a.     “Three times a week, every time I go to my class in Norman.”

3.     How long does this delay you when it affects you?

a.     “10 minutes for each instance on average.”

4.     Has this ever caused you to be late to important events?

a.     “Yes, it’s caused me to miss attendance points for class multiple times.”

Reflection:

           

            I learned that I was definitely correct about my prediction: the traffic problem on Museum definitely negatively affects students in their extracurricular pursuits as well as academic. What was super surprising to me is how many of my friends that the traffic has actually caused to be late to events. I knew that the traffic made commutes take way longer than usual but I wasn’t aware it was actually causing people to have negative effects on their classes or their organizations.

Summary:

            From my original opportunity, I believe it is still fully intact. I think that fixing this problem would still benefit a lot of people, not just students. There is a ton of problems on gamedays as well and figuring out a way to fix these issues would be a lot better for consumers. I think that my opportunity is still similarly accurate because there is still only one downside: space to expand. The benefits to fixing the traffic issues are unsurmountable. I think that entrepreneurs would definitely gain a ton of positive consumer feedback if they were able and more willing to adjust their pursuits to be more consumer friendly.