Radspur – Using data to improve bike paths

Bike infrastructure has long since ceased to be a niche topic in transportation planning. It has found its way into the center of modern, urban, and suburban living spaces. However, in many places, especially in more rural areas, expansion is facing challenges due to missing or incomplete information. This makes it difficult for local authorities to plan targeted measures. Where is a bike path actually needed? Which routes are bumpy, unsafe, or poorly constructed? Answers to these questions are lacking, and this is exactly where our pilot project comes in!

Planning a bicycle traffic network is often difficult. In order to identify weak points, gaps, or potential for expansion, a solid database is needed above all else. Yet reliable data sources have long been available: smartphones provide all the sensors needed to collect and use data.

Our concept is an app-based direct participation system that invites all cyclists to actively collect data—without the need for additional devices or complicated handling. The aim is to generate a collaborative and anonymous data picture that reveals actual usage patterns and thus forms the basis for concrete improvements to cycling infrastructure.

As part of the EU-funded PilotInnCities project, we have been developing Radspur since the beginning of June. This is a publicly available app for Android and Apple smartphones that allows cycling enthusiasts to actively participate in anonymous data collection.

The project supports cities in testing smart city solutions through agile pilot projects. Instead of large and expensive plans, the focus is on smaller, quickly implementable projects in cooperation between administration, business, science, and society. The aim is to establish innovations quickly and practically in cities. This should lead to the development of long-term municipal support structures.

More information about PilotInnCities: PilotInnCities | Pilot-based Innovation Ecosystems for Smart Cities.

Radspur creates a dynamic, anonymized data map of bicycle traffic in Kirchenlamitz in northern Bavaria, Germany. Cyclists can collect data in two ways and participate in the infrastructure planning process:

• Passive data collection: Movement data (GPS) and vibration data are collected during the ride when the device is mounted statically on the handlebars.

• Active feedback: At the same time, users can actively enter and report dangerous spots, obstacles, or suggestions directly at their current location.

This data fundamentally supports the planning process and enables targeted decisions to be made:

• Data is collected: For the first time, a dynamic picture of actual bicycle use is created.

• Frequently used routes become visible: Where are people actually riding?

• Problems become visible: Vibration data reveals poor road sections and dangerous spots are reported directly to the local authority.

• Targeted improvements: The local authority can allocate budgets based on evidence to where the benefits are greatest.

Movement data is highly sensitive information, which is why data protection is at the heart of the app.

• Direct and anonymous: The app works entirely without registration or a personal account.

• GDPR-compliant: Only the most necessary data is collected, and start and end points are not recorded in order to prevent conclusions about places of residence and work from being drawn.

• No disclosure to third parties: The anonymized raw data is made available exclusively to the municipality.

• And: No hassle with login details and passwords.

The information collected will also be made available to the community. The plan is to create a public dashboard that visualizes all anonymized data on a map.

Radspur has been deliberately designed to be modular, making it easy to transfer, adapt, and scale to other municipalities and districts.

The pilot project will run until the end of the year, and we are looking for committed cyclists to help create the database for better infrastructure in Kirchenlamitz.

Simply download the app, start cycling, and contribute data. Every ride counts!

Radspur – Apps on Google Play

Radspur‑App – App Store