How new data will unlock the future of active transport planning

Environmental sustainability and public health challenges are forcing a global rethink of how we shape cities. Increasing the number of walk and cycle trips and reducing private vehicle usage is a vital part of many potential solutions, which means understanding and investing in active transport is a high priority for many governments and councils around the world.

Historically, active transport planning has been 'on the back foot’ when compared to the planning of roads and highways for private, public and commercial vehicles. There’s always been more data available on road travel and more infrastructure in place for collecting that data, which has meant that analysing past and current use, forecasting future use and making investment decisions is a well-trodden path. The flip side of this is that, without reliable and comprehensive evidence with which to analyse and plan, active transport planners have been faced with a data gap that makes arriving at and justifying investment decisions more challenging. This gap, however, is now closing.

Using today’s devices to plan a better tomorrow

So, the data gap between vehicle usage and walk and cycle trips is shrinking – but how and by how much? The answer, or at least part of it, is in most people’s palms. GPS-enabled mobile devices like smartphones and fitness trackers are everywhere – they go with us where we walk, where we cycle and where we congregate – and they collect a wealth of travel data through the apps we use from users who opt in to have their data collected which, on any given day, is about 2-8% of the population. Going by many names, such as GPS mobility data, People Movement Data and more, this relatively new geospatial dataset unlocks a range of insights to guide active transport planning in the future.

1. Data as granular as what it’s representing

Traditional methods of collecting transport data, such as surveys and manual counts can be labour intensive, costly and sometimes intrusive on the survey respondent. GPS mobility data, on the other hand, provides highly accurate and granular information about people's movements from device users that have opted in to having their travel data collected. Insights we can infer from the data include the exact routes taken, travel times, the origin and destination of the trip, how long people are staying, and modes of transport. This detailed and multi-dimensional view of movement activity could help produce a quantum leap in understanding how people move through cities and public spaces.

2. Years of data to aggregate or isolate

Mobility data reaches back to the heady days before COVID-19, which means that planners can access years of data. Crucially, each of those location events correlate to a moment in time. This intersection of ‘where’ and ‘when’ offers planners flexibility and accuracy in their search for deep and relevant insights by allowing them to keenly observe changes in travel patterns over both long and short periods of time.

3. Understanding what encourages (or hinders) active transport trips

Mobility data can help map out where people walk and cycle, how often and how many trips are occurring. This information can be harnessed to help understand what factors in the built and natural environments encourage or discourage active transport. Attaining a deep and accurate understanding of current day activities is a fundamental step in strategising for the future, and datasets like People Movement Data could help do just that for active transportation.

4. A new way to solve infrastructure gaps

A welcome benefit of mobility data is its potential to reveal gaps in existing active transport infrastructure. By analysing where people are walking or cycling, planners can identify areas lacking safe and convenient pathways or other unfavourable conditions. This data-driven approach ensures that investments in infrastructure are targeted and effective, helping to optimise active transport networks and drive higher usage.

5. Forecasting future demand

GPS mobility data provides a robust base from which planners can forecast future transport trends. By analysing current network usage patterns, travel behaviour, demographic data and more, planners can predict where demand for active transport will grow. This foresight allows for proactive planning and the development of infrastructure that meets future needs, as opposed to a more reactive approach that’s responding to issues instead of acting on opportunities.