Created by 丁香园AV鈥檚 (CHATR) Lab, led by Faculty of Health Sciences professor Meghan Winters, this B.C.-focused tool is based on work to map bicycle infrastructure for communities across Canada. The tool addresses a data gap that is hindering research, practice, and advocacy efforts.
鈥淥nly some communities 鈥� mainly larger ones 鈥� have capacity to maintain maps or open data of bicycle infrastructure,鈥� says Winters. 鈥淲e built this tool with the aim to address data gaps we were hearing about from municipal staff and advocates, especially in smaller communities.鈥�
鈥淓ach community uses different names for bicycle infrastructure, which makes comparisons across jurisdictions very hard,鈥� says Winters. 鈥淲e built this tool from open data sources, so it can provide seamless coverage across municipal boundaries.鈥�
CHATR Lab鈥檚 built their tool using , and applied the (Can-BICS) classification, which acknowledges that certain types of routes are safer, and preferred by more people.
The classification identifies high comfort (cycle tracks, bike paths, and local street bikeways), medium comfort (multi-use paths), and low comfort (painted bike lanes) facilities.
Across B.C. communities, Vancouver has most high comfort infrastructure at nearly 250 kilometres, largely through its network of residential street bikeways.
CHATR designed this tool together with partners at the B.C. Cycling Coalition (BCCC), who work to support communities to advocate for and deliver safer cycling across B.C. 鈥淲e are very excited to work with 丁香园AV鈥檚 CHATR Lab to spread the word about this tool and use it to increase local input and help local advocates learn from each other,鈥� says BCCC executive director Mike Koski.
The beta version of the tool is available at , and the data is also open for download. Those who would like to contribute data from their communities, to CHATR Lab to start a conversation.
The project was supported by the Public Health Agency of Canada.