Category Archives: Technology

Can AI help to promote urban biking?

Every day we read a piece of news related to advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI). A lot of fields are taking advantage of it in order to automate processes, show a more precise analysis or creating new materials, just to name a few. Can AI help to promote urban biking?

As you could imagine, the answer is yes. In a few words, AI plays a significant role in promoting biking by enhancing safety, convenience and awareness for cyclists. Some ways to reach them are:

Smart route planning: AI algorithms analyze real-time traffic data, weather conditions and infrastructure to suggest the safest and most efficient biking routes. This makes more people to use cycling over other modes of transport
Traffic management and optimization: When a biker is in charge of deciding which traffic systems are better for bike users and has in mind AI, she usually determines that AI-powered traffic systems are suitable to prioritize bike lanes, optimize traffic light timings and reduce congestion. When this point is used in urban biking, it becomes safer and more appealing
Safety monitoring and alerts: AI can facilitate the development of wearable devices and bike sensors that detect hazards, monitor urban cyclist health and send alerts about approaching vehicles of unsafe street conditions
Bike sharing optimization: Although bike sharing systems are common in many cities around the world, AI can analyze usage patterns to optimize the placement and availability of shared bikes, making bikes more accessible and convenient for users
Public awareness campaigns: Apart from human thinking, AI-driven data analytics can identify barriers to cycling adoption and tailor targeted campaigns to address misconceptions, promote health benefits and inform citizens about cycling infrastructure
Infrastructure planning: Urban planners can use AI as assistant by analyzing data on traffic flow, accident hotpots and commuter patterns to design better bike lanes, bike parking and facilities
Personalized incentives: AI systems can offer personalized rewards or incentives for cycling to work or study. This way more city residents are encourage to incorporate biking into their daily routines

All these points are examples of how cities can create a safer, more efficient and more attractive environment for urban biking by using AI, leading to healthier populations and more sustainable urban development.

Urban Mobility Courses

Have you imagined a platform full of free courses on mobility to have the opportunity to become an expert? It exists on Urban Mobility Courses (UMC) by EIT Urban Mobility and the European Union.

At the time of writing this post, it contained 36 online courses, from basic to intermediate level and two or more hours of duration. The access to the courses and materials is free. They use videos and articles in refeence media and if you want to obtain the certificate there is the need of paying less than 10 euros. This way you can show them off and use in your resumé.

Regarding urban cycling, there are six courses made by experts such as Georg Liu and Lior Steinberg.

The eight fields in which to specialize are:

A stronger, accessible, high-quality public transport system
Enhanced options for active mobility like walking and cycling
Better management of mobility flows through digital solutions
Multimodal stations and hubs that connect all modes of transport
Streamlined urban logistics, last-mile delivery, and consolidation centers
Zero-emission vehicles and high availability of recharging points
Efficient on-demand and shared mobility services
Effective local policies and measures discouraging individual car use

Internet of things

Internet of things (IoT) describes physical objects (or groups of such objects) with sensors, processing ability, software, and other technologies that connect and exchange data with other devices and systems over the Internet or other communications networks, according to Wikipedia. Engineers and technologists have developed IoT over the last years and its future is promising. Bicycles could not fall behind.

Some common targets of IoT in bikes (smartbikes) consider security, satisfaction and user fidelity to transform mobility towards a more sustainable paradigm. E-bikes are equipped with geolocation, instant statistics of rides, remote alarms and anti_theft, messages advising that a mechanical check is needed and online maintenance of some bike parts. Hardware and software cooperate to offer new functionalities and experiences. But not all IoT in bikes is offered to the final user, some companies sell it to manufacturing firms that do not have such proper, specific engineers.

Where is this hardware installed? It depends on the manufacturer. In some cases it is located inside the handlebar whereas in some others in the bicycle frame or even in the rear rack.

On the other hand, more and more data is collected from these devices which allow companies to optimize marketing, among others, to offer bikers what they desire.