NACTO Releases Guidance on New Mobility Data

"The National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) and the International Municipal Lawyers Association (IMLA) released a best practices manual [pdf] to help cities as they collect, store and use a bounty of new data from mobility companies," according to an article by Jason Plautz.

The guide relies on four principles, as described by Plautz:

• Mobility data is a public good and should be used to "ensure positive safety, equity and mobility outcomes"' 
• Data should be protected as if it were personally identifiable information.
• Cities should be clear about when and why they are gathering data.
• Data should be kept open and shared with public and private partners.

The report is necessary as new mobility options continue to emerge on the market—with varying degrees of promise and public backlash. As noted by Plautz, some cities, like Detroit, are searching for ways to partner with new mobility companies to collect and use the data produced by these new modes.