TU Dresden’s “RadSim” online platform helps municipalities plan better cycling infrastructure

How do new bike lanes, bicycle streets, or traffic-calming measures change when cycling across a municipality? Which infrastructure measures do cyclists embrace and which ones encourage people to enjoy cycling? RadSim, a new web platform by TUD, provides answers to these questions and is now available to help municipalities with data-driven bicycle traffic planning.

© TUD

Developed as part of the research project “Bicycle Traffic Simulation for Improving Municipal Bicycle Traffic Planning (RadSim),” the application uses scientific models to simulate how changes to the road network affect route choices and the distribution of bicycle traffic flows. This allows municipalities to simulate various scenarios, easily compare them with one another, and virtually test their impact on bicycle traffic before implementing them. As a result, planning processes become more effective and investment decisions can be based on a robust data foundation.

© TUD

“By providing RadSim, it is the first time we’re putting out a scientific tool that allows people to realistically simulate different planning options even before they’re implemented. We have created a sound basis for decision-making and are helping to ensure that public funds are allocated where they will have the greatest benefit for cycling and local residents,” says project manager Dr.-Ing. Stefan Huber.

Scientific models based on real route data

The simulations are based on scientifically developed models of cyclists’ route-choice behavior. These models were developed at the Chair of Transport Ecology using anonymized movement data from the STADTRADELN app, which was then integrated into the web application.

The models allow conclusions to be drawn about which measures are particularly appealing to cyclists, how cycling traffic flows shift within a municipality as a result of certain measures, which sections of the network are used more or less frequently, and how different planning options perform in a direct comparison.

Improved quality of life thanks to better bicycle traffic planning

It is not only municipal planning departments that benefit from these findings. Targeted bicycle traffic planning creates a safer, more comfortable, and better-connected bicycle infrastructure in the long term. These improvements can motivate more people to use bicycles for their daily commutes while also contributing to reduced traffic noise, lower emissions, and a higher quality of life in public spaces.

By introducing RadSim, TU Dresden provides municipalities with a scientifically sound tool that facilitates data-driven decision-making and makes an essential contribution to sustainable and future-proof mobility planning.

The research project “Bicycle Traffic Simulation for Improving Municipal Bicycle Traffic Planning (RadSim)” is funded by the Federal Ministry of Transport (BMV) using funds allocated for the implementation of the National Bicycle Traffic Plan. The total funding volume is EUR 621,456.74.

The platform has been available free of charge to participating municipalities in the STADTRADELN campaign with a sufficient data set since July 2026.

Contact

TUD Dresden University of Technology
"Friedrich List" Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences
Chair of Transport Ecology
Dr.-Ing. Stefan Huber
Head of the “Climate-Friendly Mobility” research group

More about the project:
https://radsim.de/

How can cycling be made safer and more appealing? 

Researchers at TUD discuss their work in the field of cycling in the video series “Gute Frage.”