Project Description

The project Sicherheit im Radverkehr (SimRa; engl: Safety in Cycling) by TU Berlin is funded by the Citizen Science initiative. Its goal is to identify main bicycle traffic flows and the hazardous situations that arise during these movements.

For this purpose, the Scalable Software Systems developed a tracking app that records GPS data and acceleration sensor data anonymously. In addition to general information about the cyclist (age, gender, experience, …), users are asked after each ride whether a hazardous situation occurred and which type of bicycle was used. The hazard can then be described in more detail (involved road users, type of situation, etc.).

Using this data, infrastructure deficiencies can be reported, analyzed, processed, and subsequently communicated to administration and policymakers. Cyclists are thus given the opportunity to highlight issues and actively contribute to improving cycling conditions.

Participate and Make a Difference Together

Since early February, the Bergisches Städtedreieck (Wuppertal / Remscheid / Solingen) and, since mid-February, the city of Düsseldorf (including surrounding areas) have been part of the project.

The app (iOS and Android) can be downloaded directly from the project homepage: https://www.digital-future.berlin/forschung/projekte/simra/

Instructions for setup are included within the app itself. Additionally, further guidance is available here: https://wiki.natenom.de/verkehr/projekte/simra

If you would like to participate as a user, contribute to data analysis, or have questions about the app or suggestions, feel free to contact me directly.

Data Protection and Data Access

Within the app, you have the option to trim the start and end of your recorded tracks. Default values for this can also be defined in the settings.

Even though you can view your individual trips, the transmitted data is not linked to your identity or your device. For example, if you upload three tracks, it is not possible to determine that they were created by the same person.

Following media coverage (see below), it was partially claimed that the data would be commercially exploited or collected for profit. This is not the case. The data is gradually published on GitHub: https://github.com/simra-project/dataset

Datasets for Berlin are already available and accessible to everyone (as of 08.2021).

A prerequisite for publication is that multiple users contribute tracks. This also serves as an additional safeguard for your privacy.

Latest News and Updates (as of 08.2021)

Information about the app and updates on the project in the Bergisches Städtedreieck will be published here. Updates will also be shared on my Twitter account: https://twitter.com/time_e_ing

An overview of all regions and app instructions can be found in the LAMBDA Wiki: https://wiki.timholthaus.com/index.php?title=SimRa

10.02.2020: Android 10 – Storage Permission (fixed as of 09.03.2020)

To record tracks and load map tiles, storage permission must be manually enabled on Android 10.
Simply press and hold the app icon, select “App Info”, and enable storage access under permissions.

In the Media