We are a team of urban planners, geographers, engineers and computer scientists that aim to learn about urban mobility, public engagement and cycling through a citizen science platform that empowers urban cyclists with relevant travel information and supports cities in their transition to a low-carbon mobility future. We propose developing an intuitive crowdsourcing tool for cyclists, local and regional governance and researchers, that may improve the cycling experience, inform mobility policy and design, and generate valuable data for researchers studying cycling policy, active travel behavior, public engagement, and computer science. The platform would allow cyclists to share geo-located commentary, experiences, photos, and data about cycling infrastructure, with particular attention to cycle path infrastructure, maintenance, bike parking and theft.
We will promote our pilot in four cities: Aveiro (Portugal), Barcelona (Catalonia), Tampere (Finland) and Enschede (Netherlands), however the platform will be global in scope and available in multiple languages, allowing for the circulation of results across Europe cycling networks, associations and related stakeholders. Our project will mobilise the European cycling community to uncover new insights and patterns on bike movements, road conditions, bike parking, and bike theft.
We do not propose collecting the cycle tracks of cyclists movement through the city, we aim to be a platform for cyclists to report information on cycling infrastructure, road space and conditions, bicycle parking availability and bike theft. Often urban interventions promoted by local authorities are perceived as inadequate by the cyclists communities. This project could help link the stakeholders with governance structures to address real challenges. Our team is committed to integrating a gender perspective in our work, and acknowledging gender differences in mobility patterns, use and needs.