Big Cyclist Data. A study on bicycle practices in an urban context.: A study on bicycle practices in an urban context.

Big Cyclist Data. A study on bicycle practices in an urban context.

Helleland, Karoline Nielsen ; Stokstad, Julie Frederikke Henjum

4. term

Sustaianable Cities, Master

2017

2017-06-08

142

Cyklister er i høj grad fraværende i byers intelligente transportsystemer (ITS), som bruger teknologi til at styre og forbedre trafikken. Big data kan støtte beslutninger i byplanlægning, men for at være nyttigt skal vi vide, hvilken information dataene faktisk rummer, og hvordan de bør bruges. Dette speciale undersøger, hvordan stor-skala cyklistdata kan bidrage til byplanlægning, og i hvilken grad sådanne data giver indblik i cyklisters praksisser i hverdagen. Undersøgelsen bygger på flere metoder. Den omfatter et casestudie af, hvordan cyklistdata i stor skala er blevet anvendt i Oregon, USA. Derudover analyseres cyklistdata for København og Hovedstadsområdet, der dækker én måneds cykelaktivitet, leveret af it-virksomheden Strava Metro via en smartphone-app, hvis brugere udgør datagrundlaget. Endelig gennemførtes et eksperiment i København, hvor ti frivillige borgere kortlagde deres cykelruter med en smartphone-app, efterfulgt af dybdegående interviews. Med udgangspunkt i Shove, Pantzar og Watsons praksisteori samler vi de elementer, der er centrale for at forstå mobilitetspraksisser. Resultaterne viser, at kvantitative cyklistdata i høj grad fremhæver de mest benyttede ruter og til en vis grad peger på, hvor der findes alternative veje. Dataene gør det muligt at opstille antagelser og udpege områder for videre undersøgelser. Samtidig viser interviews, at cykelpraksisser er mangfoldige, og de afdækker fælles faktorer, der påvirker, hvordan cyklister bruger infrastrukturen. Visualiseringer på åbne kort, tællinger og døgnprofiler af cykeltrafik er et værdifuldt supplement i byplanlægning. For at opnå en dybere forståelse af bycyklisters praksisser er andre kilder nødvendige, såsom dybdegående interviews. Kombinationen af forskellige metoder til at indsamle cyklistdata kan støtte beslutningstagere og planlæggere i at finde løsninger, der fremmer bæredygtige mobilitetspraksisser.

Cyclists have largely been absent from cities’ Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), which use technology to manage and improve traffic. Big data can support decision-making in urban planning, but to be useful we must be clear about what the data actually show and how they should be used. This thesis examines how large-scale cyclist data can contribute to urban planning and how well such data capture everyday cycling practices. The study uses multiple methods. It includes a case study of how big cyclist data have been used in Oregon, USA. It also analyzes cyclist data for Copenhagen and Greater Copenhagen covering one month of activity, provided by the IT company Strava Metro via a smartphone app, whose users make up the data sample. Finally, an experiment in Copenhagen asked ten volunteers to map their bicycle routes with a smartphone app, followed by in-depth interviews. Drawing on the practice theory of Shove, Pantzar and Watson, we bring together the elements that are central to understanding mobility practices. Findings show that quantitative cyclist data strongly highlight the most heavily used routes and, to some extent, indicate where alternative routes exist. The data allow planners to form hypotheses and identify topics for further study. At the same time, interviews reveal that cycling practices are diverse and help pinpoint common factors that shape how people use infrastructure. Visualizations on open street maps, counts, and time-of-day profiles are a valuable supplement in urban planning. To gain a deeper understanding of urban cyclists’ practices, other information sources such as in-depth interviews are necessary. Combining different methods of collecting cyclist data can support decision makers and planners in finding solutions that promote sustainable mobility practices.

[This abstract was generated with the help of AI]

Big Cyclist Data ; Bicycle Practices ; Urban Planning ; Copenhagen ; Strava Metro

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Helleland, Karoline Nielsen:

• Big Cyclist Data. A study on bicycle practices in an urban context.: A study on bicycle practices in an urban context. (2017)

Stokstad, Julie Frederikke Henjum:

• Big Cyclist Data. A study on bicycle practices in an urban context.: A study on bicycle practices in an urban context. (2017)