MegaBITS released a joint expression urging data owners to make cycling and pedestrian data available to municipalities and regions. By uniting numerous cities and regions in this call to action, MegaBITS demonstrates the significant relevance and demand for this data, thereby clarifying the business case for data owners to make it available.
For some time now, municipalities and regions have been striving to promote cycling and walking. While reducing emissions from mobility is a key motivation, effective planning is often hindered by a lack of solid, comprehensive data. Existing data from cycling apps typically represent specific user groups and are not reflective of the general population. Cities may have counting stations that record numbers at specific points, but this information is incomplete and limits the ability to draw broader conclusions, such as identifying the most frequently used streets at different times.
"The data collected through various applications from large service providers appear extensive and representative, especially for road traffic," the joint expression states. "Derived information on cycling and pedestrian traffic is highly relevant for local authorities."
By showcasing the collective interest of a wide range of cities and regions, MegaBITS seeks to highlight the substantial market demand for cycling and pedestrian data. This unified stance not only underscores the importance of such data for improving infrastructure and safety but also strengthens the business case for data owners to make this information available.
Call to Action
MegaBITS and the undersigned cities and regions invite data owners and service providers to engage in a dialogue on making cycling and walking data accessible. By recognizing the significant interest and relevance, data owners can identify business opportunities in providing this data, which in turn supports better planning decisions and fosters environments that promote active mobility.
Signatories
The joint expression has been endorsed by the following cities and regions, demonstrating widespread interest:
- City of Antwerp (Belgium)
- City of Apeldoorn (Netherlands)
- City of Copenhagen (Denmark)
- City of Enschede (Netherlands)
- City of Haarlem (Netherlands)
- City of Hamburg (Germany)
- City of Houten (Netherlands)
- City of Le Havre (France)
- City of Utrecht (Netherlands)
- City of Zwolle (Netherlands)
- Imec (Belgium)
- Province of Antwerp (Belgium)
- Province of Overijssel (Netherlands)
We encourage all data owners and service providers to join this important conversation. Your participation can significantly impact the future of sustainable and active mobility in our communities while presenting a valuable business opportunity.
We also invite other interested cities and regions to join this initiative; please contact us to add your support.
For more information or to get involved, please contact:
Robin Kleine
Project Manager MegaBITS
Email: r.kleine@mobycon.nl