What is it?
The solution developed by the Urbanist team is bicycle signs with app support and multipurpose stops for cyclists. This app, which is built with user contributions, contains many bike routes to entice cyclists. Cyclists can easily see the available routes by connecting to the app from the digital boards at the stops. On the other hand, the boards are able to detect the number of cyclists passing through that particular stop and enable us to gather data such as how often that route is used or how many cyclists pass that particular stop. As well as being suitable for use as resting spots, the stops also feature functions that could serve cyclists such as bank ATMs, bicycle parking racks, and repair kits. With the help of bicycle signboards to be installed at regular intervals, increased visibility of cyclists in traffic is aimed for. In this way, drivers of motor vehicles will be able to drive through traffic with an increased awareness of the cyclists. As a result, cyclists will feel safer on shared roads. The daily usage numbers which will be displayed on the proposed boards will set the people who want to use bicycles in motion.
Why?
The Urbanist team investigated the adoption and prevalence in Istanbul of low-carbon-emission modes of transportation. The research indicated that bicycle usage in Istanbul is quite low owing to geographical and social reasons. To penetrate deeper into this issue, the team conducted surveys to elaborate on people’s reasons for not using a bicycle and the problems they encounter when they do. The results indicated that the problem lies in a lack of motivation incentives for bicycle usage in Istanbul, and therefore a lack of bicycle culture.