‘Data Bikes’ Help Governments Understand Bike Path Conditions

Bicycles equipped with data collection devices are helping communities understand the conditions of their bike lanes and paths, reports Daniel C. Vock for Route Fifty.

“Local planning organizations have deployed them in Idaho, Iowa, Massachusetts and Minnesota,” Vock adds. “The Des Moines area agency produces heat maps of where distressed pavement is located, which helps local governments identify the problem areas quickly.” In Des Moines, the city wants to map out all of the region’s pathways in two years.

Local governments can use this data to build more resilient trails and understand problem areas. Planners can use the information to prioritize areas for improvement when applying for grants and developing maintenance plans.

The technology isn’t without its challenges: “The devices on board also don’t record debris or the slope of the paths, which would also be helpful for devising maintenance plans. And they don’t capture branches growing over the path or other obstacles that could prevent cyclists from using the trail.”