Cyclists in Brussels to ping danger spots

The Brussels-Capital Region’s mobility department is launching a new project in which cyclists are asked to map dangerous spots by “pinging” them with a Bluetooth-enabled device. Pinging is a technical term for quick electronic communication.

The project, called Ping if you care, is set up in collaboration with Mobiel 21 and Bike Citizens. The first test phase with 500 cyclists starts in May.

Cyclists have already been chosen following a call from Mobiel 21 and will be given a device that can be attached to their bicycles or to their clothing. Every time they are involved in a traffic incident or pass a spot they think is unsafe for cyclists, they just push a button, and the location will be communicated to an app.

“Cyclists can then use the app to indicate why they highlighted the location,” Elke Bossaert of Mobiel 21 told De Standaard. The lack of a cycle path could be a reason, for instance. Via the website, cyclists can give more explanation and send photos.

Data will show how many times a certain location is pinged by cyclists. This will tell the city whether any given site is a chronic problem that affects multiple cyclists.

The region will use the data to create a detailed map showing the most crucial bottlenecks for cyclists and then be able to take concrete action, according to Brussels state secretary for road safety, Bianca Debaets. The capital has invested €123,500 in the project.

Photo: Jean-Paul Rémy/Flickr/Creative Commons