MoveOn² - A data-based Understanding of Cycling Behaviour

MoveOn² – Understanding Cycling Through Data

Cycling plays a central role in sustainable mobility in Germany. At the same time, reliable data is often lacking on how cycling infrastructure is actually used and how traffic flows are developing.

The research project MoveOn² develops methods to systematically analyze large cycling datasets and gain new insights into mobility patterns. The basis includes anonymized GPS data from the campaign CITY CYCLING, in which millions of kilometers cycled are recorded every year.

Project & Relevance

Promoting cycling is a key objective of German transport policy. The National Cycling Plan aims to significantly increase the share of cycling and encourage more trips to be made by bike. Among other things, this is intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen sustainable mobility.

However, current results from the mobility study Mobilität in Deutschland (MiD) show that these goals have only been partially achieved so far. While cycling is growing in many cities, development varies regionally, and reliable data on actual usage is often lacking—especially outside major urban areas.

This is where new digital data sources come into play. As part of the STADTRADELN campaign, millions of kilometers cycled are recorded annually. The research projects MOVEBIS and MoveOn have shown that these data provide valuable insights into cycling flows. The MoveOn² project builds on this and further develops methods to analyze cycling in Germany more comprehensively.

Objectives

MoveOn² makes cycling in Germany visible, measurable, and usable. The project aims to improve the data basis for cycling planning nationwide and in a representative way.

To achieve this, extensive mobility data are systematically collected, analyzed, and made available in a practical format. On this basis, traffic flows, usage patterns of cyclists—including pedelec users—and the impact of infrastructure measures can be better understood. At the same time, the project examines how cycling and public transport are interconnected in order to plan transfer options and bicycle parking facilities according to demand.

All collected data, models, and analyses are published via the BIKE MONITOR, enabling municipalities, researchers, and other stakeholders to directly use the information for planning, evaluation, and research. In this way, MoveOn² not only contributes to scientific analysis but also provides a concrete decision-making basis for sustainable and future-oriented cycling planning.

Project lead: Dr. Sven Lißner

Project team: Dipl.-Ing. Julius Reh, M.Sc. Joscha Raudszus, M.Sc. Paul Lindemann

Projekt Partners: Klima-Bündnis Services GmbH; VISION VELO GmbH