Motorists closely overtaking, potholes and obstructions are the main issue logged by 70 people who cycle in Dublin to a free app developed by Northern Ireland bicycle light and data company See.Sense.
The company said that 44% of the issues logged were close passes, followed by potholes at 25% and just under14% obstructions. The company said that no purchase of its lights is required to use the app.
Data analyses has become a large businesses internationally, but in terms of cycling it is a complicated one. In 2020, Strava said it was now offering its Strava Metro data set free of change for transport planners, and campaigners. Bicycle technology companies such as See.Sense often place themselves as an alternative or add-on to more costly and location-fixed bicycle counters.
Cyclists in Dublin also have mixed feeling about user reporting systems. As IrishCycle.com reported yesterday, when Dublin City Council revealed its soon-to-be launched ‘Rate My Signals’, a feedback system for traffic lights, the issues of ‘consultation fatigue’ and members of the public tiring of feedback systems was raised.
However, Irene McAleese, co-founder at See.Sense, sees their company said as possible bridge between people who cycle and their local government. She said: “With the See.Sense reports, we aim to give a voice to the cycling community, helping to provide useful information for cities to take proactive steps to improve conditions for cycling.”
In a press release, See.Sense said: “This feature enables cyclists to highlight locations where they have encountered problems, such as close passes, potholes, and cars encroaching into cycling lanes. By submitting reports, cyclists can influence transport planning decision makers to improve cycling infrastructure and conditions for cycling. All submitted reports can be viewed on the See.Sense Report interactive dashboard.”
“Other cities such as Birmingham have used See.Sense close pass reports to identify hot spot areas and pass the information to the police to know where to set up enforcement zones. Similarly, information on potholes can also be used to rectify areas that are dangerous not only for cyclists but for all road users,” said See.Sense.
It added: “See.Sense hopes that by shining a light on issues reported by cyclists they can help ensure the voice of cyclists can be heard when it comes to planning in the city. With the recent announcement by Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan that €289 million is to be allocated to local authorities for walking and cycling infrastructure in 2022 it is timely to ensure cyclists have a say in how conditions for cycling are improved.”
The company said it also works with cities under licence to access anonymised sensor data collected by its bicycle lights that includes insights for road safety and urban planning. The data obtained from its lights includes road surface quality, swerving and breaking, collisions and speed.
MORE: Sea.Sense report for Dublin.
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