In June, a significant milestone was achieved: the connection with the National Data Portal Road Traffic (NDW) platform became operational! This means that the data from our “My Cycle Traffic” SAAS platform can now be shared with the NDW. A big step forward in understanding and managing our road traffic. But what does this mean for you as a user?
A Better View of Traffic
With this operational connection, users gain access to measurement data from other systems, resulting in an even more comprehensive overview of traffic measurements. Through the open data platform Dexter, bicycle counts can be viewed at numerous measurement points in the Netherlands. While there are already many filtering options for viewing data, weather influences and information about the type of (bicycle) vehicle are still missing. Also, not all municipalities are connected yet, but it already provides a good impression of mobility measurements in the Netherlands.
A Platform for the Future
Some municipalities aspire to have their own platform and want to be connected to the NDW at the same time. An interesting example of this can be found in Lisbon, where a partner is responsible for managing the technical installations and offers this to the government. In the coming period, it will be investigated how we can integrate vehicle measurements, not only from our own hardware, into our “My Cycle Traffic” platform for each connected municipality. We are also exploring how municipalities themselves can manage the platform in collaboration with the managers of the infrastructure. The question arises whether this data should be managed centrally or decentrally, or perhaps even both.
A New Vision on Mobility
Now that we are talking about mobility, it is time to think about a new approach to travel. Traffic is under pressure, traffic jams are increasing again, and public transport cannot meet the demand. If we want to keep our country accessible and liveable, we must view travel differently. Speed is important, but sustainability, costs, and environmental effects must also play a role in our choices. Why take the car when you can take the bike or use a shared car? Why not go to work at a different time when the rush has subsided?
The Role of Data in the Mobility Transition
Data is the key to this mobility transition. It is the raw material for applications and services in our entire mobility system. We can see where it gets stuck and what alternatives are available, at any time of day. The only problem is the fragmentation of data, locally and per type of transport.
The National Access Point Mobility (NTM) aims to collect all mobility data in the Netherlands in one place, make it available, usable, and keep it reliable. We do not do this alone but together with partners who have expertise in this field. Together we have a valuable asset in hand.
The future of mobility is in our hands, and data plays a crucial role in this. Together with you and our partners, we can work towards an accessible, liveable, sustainable, and efficient mobility system for everyone. Let’s shape the future of mobility together!
