DATA-DRIVEN BICYCLE PLANNING

Data-Driven Cycling Planning: Turning User-Generated Data into Smarter Infrastructure

At the University of Gothenburg, researchers at the Department of Applied Information Technology, working in collaboration with Gothenburg City and Strava recently explored how user-generated GPS data can support more informed planning of cycling infrastructure and encourage active commuting. The initiative is part of the research project “Active Commuting: The Role of Infrastructure in Promoting Everyday Sports Activity,” which aims to strengthen infrastructure planning in Gothenburg by improving our understanding of how cyclists and runners navigate the urban environment.

The work resulted in the thesis “DATA-DRIVEN BICYCLE PLANNING: Visualization and Analysis of User-Generated GPS Data for Improved Cycling Infrastructure in Gothenburg,” conducted by Johannes Taheri, Teodor Hammar Orrbeck, and William Dahlgren. [Pdf thesis in Swedish] [Abstract in English]

Why new data matters

Gothenburg has set an ambitious goal of increasing the share of journeys made by bicycle by 2035. Achieving this requires more than strong policy, it demands deeper insight into cyclists’ behaviors, route choices, and preferences.

Traditional measurement methods, such as fixed traffic counters, provide valuable but incomplete snapshots. They often miss alternative routes and cannot fully capture how cyclists adjust their travel patterns in response to safety, congestion, terrain, or convenience.

User-generated data offers a powerful complement. Through Strava Metro, anonymized GPS traces reveal patterns that would otherwise remain invisible—highlighting popular corridors, emerging routes, and overlooked connections across the city.

Designing a digital artifact for urban planners

Using Design Science Research Methodology (DSRM), the project developed a interactive prototype web application that integrates anonymized Strava Metro data with the city’s own measurements.

The artifact enables planners to:

Visualize cyclists’ route choices
Identify alternative paths that may lack adequate infrastructure
Compare multiple data sources for stronger decision-making
Gain a more comprehensive understanding of traffic flows

By triangulating datasets, the tool helps reduce uncertainty. At the same time, the project acknowledges an important limitation: the representativeness of user-generated data remains somewhat unclear due to demographic biases and variations in usage patterns. Such data should therefore complement, rather than replace, established measurement approaches.

Key insights

Demonstrations and evaluations indicate that the artifact is both intuitive and relevant for urban planning practice. By broadening the evidence base, the tool supports more informed decisions when prioritizing investments in cycling infrastructure.

Importantly, it helps planners see how cycling actually unfolds across the city—not just where infrastructure already exists, but where demand may be growing.

The project also identified opportunities for further development, including:

Aggregated traffic datasets
Time-based visualizations of cycling flows
Expanded analytical functionality

Supporting sustainable and active cities

This work provides a practical example of how digitalization and user-generated data can strengthen sustainable urban development. Better cycling infrastructure does more than improve mobility, it lowers the threshold for integrating physical activity into everyday life. When commuting by bike becomes safer, smoother, and more predictable, exercise naturally becomes part of daily routines rather than an additional effort.

At the same time, responsible data use remains essential. Questions related to data quality, representativeness, and privacy must continue to guide how digital sources are incorporated into public decision-making.

Looking ahead

Data-driven planning is not about replacing professional judgment—it is about augmenting it. By combining traditional measurements with real-world behavioral data, cities can move toward infrastructure that reflects how people truly travel.

Collaborations between academia, the public sector, and industry show what becomes possible when expertise and data converge around a shared objective: creating healthier, more sustainable cities where active commuting is not the exception, but the norm.