Urban Cyclers [Czech Republic]

In a Nutshell:

UrbanCyclers is an urban cycling app (Android/iOS) that aims to promote sustainable mobility by supporting and motivating self-regulated behavioural change through motivation and incentives, information and navigation, communication and engagement. The app includes a cycling route-planner (for Prague and several other cities), turn-by-turn navigation that allows for combining biking with public transport and other bike-sharing systems (real-time availability). To motivate residents to cycle more, route-tracking is linked to a gamification in a system of points, badges, leader-boards and challenges, and real-world rewards, and community experience sharing. The routing engine is based on state-of-the-art artificial intelligence algorithms that allows for setting preferences for several criteria including safety, comfort and speed. The practice/app can be easily connected to existing Bike-to-Work / Bike-to-School campaigns that target employees and students to increase their physical activity and promote sustainable commuting. 

Health-Equity-Environment:

UrbanCyclers embeds regular physical activity, which contributes to healthier lifestyles and reduces the negative effects of sedentary lifestyles, while also making cycling more affordable and accessible for low socio-economic status (SES) groups. UrbanCyclers promotes a switch from motorized transport to cycling, which contributes to reducing CO2 emissions and noise pollution.

Key Features:                     

• UrbanCyclers is a smart digital platform/cycling app that provides feedback on how successfully people have changed their behaviour, commend people for their good behaviour and give incentives and rewards in recognition of adopting more sustainable commuting.
• Sectors and stakeholders: Czech Technical University’s Agent Technology Center, Bike-to-Work campaign organizers (Automat), users of the app and Prague Municipality and other Czech cities, involving several hundred participants.