Citation

Wigan M, Grashoff P, van den Wouden F. World Transp. Policy Pract. 2009; 15(3): 7-21.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Eco-Logica)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Route finding is a key aspect of travel of all kinds, but the costs of inaccurate information are highest for human powered transport (bicycles and pedestrians). Even in the Netherlands, with the extensive provisions for bicycles, management of routing information which caters specifically for bicycle rider needs has many failings. The present paper describes a process, tools and large scale operational experience developed by Demis (with their BicycleNetter) to address these information shortfalls, making use of rider input on a continuing basis, and delivering a bicycle trip planning system that is the more reliable for it. Over a million user input network and information input and update edits had been recorded by the end of 2008, and 3 million by mid-2009. The system has been adopted by six Dutch provinces, and the number is growing. Recently, as part of the RoadIdea EU FP7 project on innovations in transport, a real time link to the Dutch weather service (www.knmi.nl) was added, and made
part of the trip planning system, as well as the Google Location Based Services Application programming interface. The novelty of linking routing systems with real time meteorology data in a usable form may be of value to others aiming to add such capacities to their forward programs. This successful overall model for harnessing user participant knowledge (aka "crowd sourcing‟), linked to what is clearly an ITS system, shows both that ITS has major and appreciated benefits for human powered as well as powered vehicle, and that crowd sourcing is a viable mode of participation in ITS for human powered transport. All of the operational planning systems that are online have direct URLs provided here. The governance, data access and costing issues raised by this emergent strategy for community participation in transport planning and provision are highlighted.

Keywords: Route finding, The Netherlands, BicycleNetter, bicycle trip- planning systems, user participant knowledge.