Graduating senior Patrick Demers built an app to help the community navigate CyRide

Dec 11, 2023

Since he was a kid, Patrick Demers loved working with computers. So it was only natural that he would pursue that passion in his education. The software engineering major enjoys using his programming skills to help solve challenges affecting people in their daily lives. Since he didn't have a car, Demers decided to create an app to help CyRide users like himself better utilize public transportation around Ames. The result was Ames Ride, a free, open source app that allows users to check CyRide routes, view real-time bus locations, and see arrival times. The app has been downloaded over 10,000 times, and has hosted over 15,000 users in a day. Demers has even received positive feedback from CyRide employees. After he graduates, Demers plans to continue to work on Ames Ride even while he starts his career at Tesla.