Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Streetsblog.net

A Bike Bell That Maps Where Cyclists Feel Unsafe and Pings the Mayor

11:31 AM EDT on June 16, 2016

This map shows where cyclists felt unsafe biking in London. Map: Hövding
A user-generated map of where people felt unsafe biking in London, via Hövding
false

London cyclists who encounter stressful, dangerous conditions can crowdsource a map of weaknesses in the city's bike network by simply tapping button on their handlebars. Brandon G. Donnelly at Architect This City has more:

Hövding -- a Swedish company best known for its radical airbag cycling helmets (definitely check these out) -- is currently crowdsourcing unsafe conditions and cyclist frustration in London.

Working with the London Cyclist Campaign, they distributed 500 yellow handlebar buttons. Cyclists were then instructed to tap these buttons whenever they felt unsafe or frustrated with current cycling conditions.

Handlebar-mounted buttons allow London cyclists to alert the mayor about safety gaps. Photo: Hovding
The handlebar-mounted buttons also generate messages to the mayor. Photo: Hövding
false

Every time the button is hit, the data point gets logged to a public map and an email gets sent to the Mayor of London reminding him of his promises around cycling. Both of these things happen via the rider’s smartphone.

Not only does it tell you pain point locations, but it also seems to suggest the primary cycling routes. I think this is a brilliant initiative because, it’s entirely user-centric. It’s telling you how people feel on the ground.

It will be interesting to see if the feedback from the bells can be channeled productively. Is there enough detail in that map to be useful to bike planners?

Elsewhere on the Network today: Biking Toronto relays some dispatches from local street safety advocacy efforts -- Mayor John Tory is responding to families of people killed by traffic violence who have demanded reforms. The Transportist looks at how new transportation and communications technologies may lead to more sprawl. And The Dirt recaps a speech from Andrés Duany at the Congress for New Urbanism conference last week about how the promise of the suburbs -- being close to nature and moving about freely in a car -- has fallen short.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Friday’s Headlines Don’t Feel the Need for Speed

Tell me again, which constitutional amendment is it that gives people the right to drive as fast as they want?

December 1, 2023

Komanoff: IMHO, TMRB is A-OK

Here’s what’s to like about the Traffic Mobility Review Board's central business district toll recommendations. It's a lot!

December 1, 2023

Talking Headways Podcast: The Sexy World of Bus Speeds

When you start to add up the numbers, you can see why agency leaders would be interesting in finding ways to reduce those costs.

November 30, 2023

Thursday’s Headlines See Daylight

Daylighting, or removing parking near intersections, is an often overlooked way to improve pedestrian safety.

November 30, 2023

Why So Many U.S. Drivers Think Speeding Is Perfectly Safe

Do Americans hit lethal speeds because they're in a rush, or because they have no idea that they're increasing their chances of death with every tick of the odometer?

November 30, 2023
See all posts