NextCity surveys a variety of new data-collecting technologies meant to clarify the impacts of bike and pedestrian infrastructure projects.
Bike advocates rely on the Census Bureau's American Community Survey to measure demographics and trends in urban cycling. But local conclusions drawn from that big-picture data can be misleading, Next City reports, and more precise strategies are in the works—including "bike-counter totems, GPS-enabled smartphone apps and cameras that use machine learning."
One piece of hardware, Numina, can count the users of a piece of infrastructure and discern patterns in their behavior. It uses a camera programmed to recognize and count moving parts like cyclists or pedestrians.
Others, like Strava and MapMyRide, can track bike routes via GPS and smartphone apps, as well as users' demographic data.
Each approach has its advantages and shortcomings, but advocates hope that together they can contribute to a more robust understanding of the impacts of complete streets infrastructure.
FULL STORY: More Accurate Bicycle Counter Could Give Complete Streets Advocates a Boost
Rochester to Update Bicycle Master Plan with More Multimodal Infrastructure
The new active transportation plan will amend the existing bicycle master plan to include additional safety improvements for pedestrians and other multimodal road users.
New Bikeways Coming to Atlanta This Year
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Bay Area Leads the Nation in Reducing Solo Commuters
According to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey on commuting to work, one subregion in the Bay Area can claim accolades for having achieved the largest drop in solo-commuting from 2006, scoring the third lowest drive-alone rate in 2013.
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Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.
USGS Water Science Centers Targeted for Closure
If their work is suspended, states could lose a valuable resource for monitoring, understanding, and managing water resources.
Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation
California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.
Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.
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