We caught up with Renske Graafland, the project manager of Province of Overijssel, MegaBITS' Lead Partner. We asked her about the goals, developments and benefits of the three MegaBITS implementation overseen by the Province. Read the full interview below.
Renske, what is your role in the Megabits project?
I’m a project leader at the Province of Overijssel. Within the MegaBITS project, we act both as a lead partner and implementation partner. As project leader, I oversee three implementations in Overijssel and collaborate with the cities of Zwolle and Enschede, as they are also part of the pilot project. I ensure smooth implementation and collaborate with others to make sure everything aligns across our shared initiatives.
What are the three implementations you're working on with MegaBITS?
The first implementation is a cycling app designed to gather data on cycling habits and motivate people to bike more via incentives.
The second focuses on installing counting poles along the important F35 cycling route, which runs through the Province of Overijssel and passes through the cities of Zwolle and Enschede. These poles aim to inform cyclists about relevant information, such as train schedules.
The third implementation involves analyzing traffic light data. This includes information on where cyclists travel, how long they wait at red lights, and other relevant data. This information can be valuable for municipalities, policymakers, and us, and may be used to create a dashboard that provides insights into cycling patterns and traffic conditions.
Could you elaborate on the cycling app? What are its main goals, key benefits for users and policymakers?
The app is designed for Overijssel and all its municipalities. Its goal is to collect data on where, when, and how people bike, helping us understand how different incentives, like challenges, work best. This data will also help to develop more effective cycling policies and infrastructure improvements. It also aims to promote more cycling across the province by offering users rewards, such as points they can redeem for discounts at local shops. Users will also benefit from receiving notifications about new cycling routes and other relevant updates in their area.
We are currently collaborating with other provinces on the app, as they were considering starting a similar tender. The ultimate goal would be to develop a cycling app for all of the Netherlands, which municipalities and provinces across the country can use to make cycling more appealing for users.
What’s the current phase of the cycling app implementation?
We’re currently in the tender phase, and we’re looking for an existing, proven app that can be quickly implemented. If all goes well, we hope to go live in March or April 2025, still within the Megabits project timeline.
What about the second implementation involving counting poles? What stage is that in?
We’re still in the orientation phase for the counting poles. We're working to identify the best locations, such as just outside train stations, so cyclists can benefit from real-time train information. We're also determining which features the poles should have to make them more useful than simply counting cyclists. The goal is to provide additional valuable information to cyclists. We're collaborating with the cities of Zwolle and Enschede on this project.
How about the traffic light project?
Like the counting poles, this is still in its exploratory phase. We’re looking at other Dutch cities that have implemented similar systems to see what works, how they did this and how it could look like. The idea is to create a dashboard with meaningful data, such as the number of cyclists, how long cyclists wait at traffic lights or if with bad weather for example, cyclists cross red lights more often. The goal is to use the data to inform policymakers, but we want to ensure the dashboard is truly useful and not just because we said we would do this within the MegaBITS project.
Is there a plan to implement “green wave” traffic lights for cyclists?
Yes, we’re looking into that. In the cycling app’s tender, we’ve included a prerequisite that the app should be able to communicate with traffic lights. For smart traffic lights, it will be possible for cyclists using the app, to have a green wave—where they hit multiple green lights in a row. But, for non-smart traffic lights, implementation would be more complex and costly. So while it's technically possible, it's uncertain how far we’ll be able to go within the project’s timeline.
Which of the three implementations do you think will have the biggest impact?
I believe the cycling app will have the most significant impact because it will be widely visible and used by the public. The other implementations, like the counting poles and traffic light data, are more beneficial for policymakers but won't directly engage the public as much.
What excites you most about this project?
I’m particularly excited about how many provinces are joining us in this tender for the cycling app. We’ve already got a large part of the Netherlands covered, and there’s potential for it to become a national program. Seeing this grow into something that benefits the entire country is exciting.
Is there anything else you'd like municipalities to know about Overijssel’s role in the MegaBITS project?
Yes, I’d encourage municipalities to explore smart solutions like these, especially in cycling. There’s a lot of untapped potential in using data and technology to improve cycling infrastructure and policies, and this project is a great example of how that can be achieved.