We think of walking or cycling as a very analogue thing to do – we’ve been getting around without the aid of an engine for millennia. But there are some ways that technology can help us on our way, whether that’s in planning a route, or making our journeys safer, more accessible, convenient and fun. For our latest blog, the team has been exploring how technological innovations might improve not only the way we make journeys, but also our health and the places we live and work.

What do we mean by active travel? It’s powering a journey under our own steam, whether we are walking, in a wheelchair, on a bicycle or scooter. It’s good for our health, it saves us money, makes us more likely to bump into neighbours, friends, feel connected to our local area and it’s better for the environment. According to a report by Sustrans [1]: “130,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions [can be] saved annually by cycling instead of driving, equivalent to the carbon footprint of 160,000 people taking flights from London Heathrow to New York.”

Chris Boardman, the Commissioner of Active Travel England, believes that half of all urban journeys could be made on foot or by bike from 2030. But however free-wheeling and analogue it feels, technology still has a useful role to play in making these journeys safer, more comfortable and encouraging more people, when they can, to leave the car at home. Here are just some of the ways that tech can support us – each a potential area for innovation.

Health and activity monitoring

Many of us monitor our step count, however casually, whether that’s on our phones, or via a smartwatch or device. If we wish, we can also access more precise metrics, such as our heart rate, oxygen levels and calories burned. Cyclists or runners might use Strava or a similar GPS app to monitor performance in segments or log a route. This gamification of healthcare data can help to shift behaviour - it gives us the tools to set ourselves targets, whether we’re performance athletes or just aiming for a personal best on a jog to the post office. Monitoring devices can give us a sense of accomplishment and a better picture of our own health – and perhaps a nudge to get out for a lunchtime break.

Encouraging us to get active

There are well documented health benefits to activity, in reducing obesity, supporting mental health, and reducing early deaths – one report put a financial value on this to the economy of £1.3 billion [2]. However, the first step might not be out of the front door, but onto the internet – in many cases, deciding on or planning a journey starts online: Is my route safe? How long will each transport option take? …what’s the weather forecast? This is a point where nudges can have an impact. There are great examples of targeted online campaigns, such as the go smarter, go active adverts in the North East, TfL’s Walk, Cycle, Discover programme or through the promotion of events to encourage specific groups, such as Kidical Mass.

Understanding barriers

If we want to support people in the transition to walking and wheeling, social media can be a helpful way to engage and demonstrate its positive benefits. At DG Cities, we often use surveys as a useful tool to understand the public’s needs and barriers when it comes to mobility - it’s one way to find out what needs to happen for people to want to hop on a bike, or feel safe enough to walk around their neighbourhood. Our analysis of these results contributes to a growing evidence base available to local authorities. There are a range of dedicated resources offering guidance on what works in shifting behaviours to active travel, as well as support in planning projects.

Making our towns and cities safer

We rely on technology like speed cameras to help slow traffic, and cameras can also be used to enable modal filters – in a school street or LTN (low traffic neighbourhood) for example, access can be controlled to allow buses and emergency vehicles, but prevent cars. Cameras can help to manage traffic in this way at an urban scale, but this tech also applies at the level of the vehicle - one of the most exciting applications of AI is in road safety. Our consortium’s D-Risk project has been helping to teach autonomous vehicles about rare driving events, with the aim of improving safety for all road users. This has continued with DeepSafe, which looks at simulation-based training.

In terms of crime and personal safety, technology has many applications, in street lighting, sensors and IoT cameras. If your bike is stolen, bike marking schemes can help to track it down and prosecute theft, and tags can help you geolocate your property. In an emergency, smart phone apps such as Flare can detect a crash and raise an alarm.  

Maintenance

Another aspect of safety is maintenance. Just as on the railways, inspection trains check and log the tracks, technology has a role to play in planning and maintaining safe cycling and walking routes: logging cycle paths, highlighting dangers, reporting potholes, or mapping accessible journeys. Rather than find the right department in a council, apps such as FixMyStreet provide a convenient, user-friendly platform for the public to log faults like potholes, fly tipping or broken bike stands, for the relevant team to act on.

Measuring where investment is needed

A useful way for tech innovations to support active travel is as a measurement tool. For example, using surveys to find out how many people are walking, wheeling or cycling, evaluating how well initiatives are performing, monitoring air quality, journeys, even using data from accident reporting to focus investment on areas where better infrastructure is needed. Data is used to guide policy – that’s why we developed our Mobility Assessment Framework. It’s an evidence-based approach to evaluating different mobility options for developers and local authorities.

Accessing shared cycles and scooters

New mobility solutions, from e-scooters to cycles, rely on data and digital advances. The rollout of city-wide cycle hire networks necessitates the seamless integration of technologies. This starts with an interactive map of where to find docking stations or street cycles, live data on how many bikes are available and connected payment systems, which unlock the bike and allow you to cycle away on your journey.

For fun!

Finally, and by no means the least important factor in our decision to walk or cycle, is the potential of technology to help make getting around or exercising more fun. Audio guides can help you discover an area, then there are heritage walks, hunting for geocached ‘treasure’ or GPS-enabled games like PokemonGo.  

These technologies can be helpful, but they are all in the background. Digital advances can help to make walking and cycling routs safer, brighter, more fun. But also, allowing you to switch off, enjoy the fresh air and the health benefits of getting around under your own power.

…The DG Cities team is going to be in Stevenage this week talking to people about their views on cycling, so if you see us, stop and say hello!

[1] https://www.sustrans.org.uk/media/10528/sustrans-2021-walking-and-cycling-index-text-only-report.docx

[2] Based on WHO/Europe Health Economic Assessment Tool (HEAT), which enables an economic assessment of the health benefits of cycling by estimating the value of reduced mortality resulting from specified amounts of cycling.