A new scheme will see 200 cyclists in Coventry given an artificial intelligence (AI) powered bike light for just £10, which will also provide anonymous data on popular routes, speed, heavy breaking and swerving.
The See.Sense bike light uses AI technology to flash brighter and faster in riskier situations, such as road junctions, roundabouts and filtering in traffic, helping to increase visibility. It retails at £44.99 outside of the scheme.
Data from the lights will give the council insights into where to target investment in cycling infrastructure, such as segregated cycleways and cycle parking. The project is being delivered by Transport for West Midlands to make travel safer for people who cycle.
Councillor Patricia Hetherton, cabinet member for city services at Coventry City Council, said: “This is a win-win scheme for Coventry, with this great technology offering both individuals and the Council additional benefits compared to a standard bike light, all for just £10 for scheme participants. It will allow us to target our investment where it’s needed most by giving us important, anonymised insights.
“As a city region, we’ve asked the government for funding for cycling infrastructure as part of the City Regional Sustainable Transport Settlement, which will allow us to invest in dedicated cycling infrastructure to improve the experience for cyclists and road users across our city.”
The data insights gathered from this project will support the development of the future Starley Network route, as well as give insights into the quality and safety of people’s current cycling journeys within the corridor. The project forms part of a scheme funded by the active travel fund, and is part of a wider programme, which is being delivered by Transport for West Midlands and partners.
Irene McAleese, co-founder & CSO See.Sense, added: “We’re excited to partner with Coventry City Council and TfWM on this smart cycling project, which brings people, technology and data together to help provide data driven decisions that will enable more cycling.”
