Intelligent bicycle path

The most intelligent bicycle path is on TU Delft Campus! MICD, TU Delft Campus and Plastic Road are testing an innovative underground sensor technique, integrated into the road surface over which cyclists and pedestrians move. By measuring the pressure of passers-by, it can be determined how many cyclists and pedestrians have passed a certain location and in which direction. In our pilot project, we will further investigate whether a distinction can be made between new forms of mobility such as scooters, mopeds, e-bikes and cargo bikes.

Duration
From November 2021 to May 2023

Partners (TU Delft)
Do IoT Fieldlab, TU Delft CEG, TU Delft EEMCS

Partners (other)
PlasticRoad, MRDH, gemeente Delft, Argaleo, Asset.Insight, Bainisha, BG Engineering, Hyrde, Mobility Sensing, Vialis

Besides sensors for monitoring cyclist and pedestrian flows, Plastic Road as a Smart Road also contains other types of sensors that are suitable for measuring the quality of the road surface, the amount of precipitation, temperature and iciness.

Two platforms connecting

MICD already had installed a powerful above-ground monitoring system for pedestrian and cycling flows. By allowing this platform and the Plastic Road top connect and communicate with each other, we are really working on the future of infrastructure. Roads that ‘understand’ how they are used, what kind of traffic passes through them, and can then communicate with other platforms, such as traffic lights, public lighting, dynamic signage, etc. In that way, we can make our cities smarter and more sustainable. All so that we can design and manage our cities in a smarter and more efficient way. A path like this has never been made or applied before.

Construction

The intelligent bycicle path was constructed in December 2021. The total length of the smart cycling path is 25 meter. However, for the joint research the length of the cycling path is not that important. What really matters is the ‘state of the art’ smart functionality that is built in and under the surface–and all of the smart sensors above ground that are pivotal for the further developing of Plastic Road, and for providing detailed insights the project provides in mobility behaviour of pedestrians and cyclists.

More information

Download our leaflet about the intelligent bycicle path (pdf).
For more information about our privacy policy regarding the cycle path, you can read the privacy statement.