Toronto launches new app that allows cyclists to report bicycle parking issues

Jul 30 2018, 10:37 pm

Need to report a problem with parking your bike in Toronto? There’s an app for that.

To tackle the issue, the City of Toronto has partnered with Civic Tech Toronto and Code for Canada to develop a community-built web app called BikeSpace that launched last week.

Designed to collect data from cyclists to help City staff, businesses and property managers improve bicycle parking facilities, BikeSpace allows cyclists to highlight areas where new bike parking is needed.

Additionally, cyclists can report broken and full bike racks, as well as spots occupied by abandoned bikes.

BikeSpace is quick and easy to use, builds a public map of bicycle parking problems in Toronto and creates a data-driven picture to help bring about improvements.

“I’m incredibly proud of this important collaboration and the positive change this app will produce,” said Jake Miller, BikeSpace Product Manager.

“We built BikeSpace to allow road users to inform and directly impact the development of high-quality cycling infrastructure in Toronto.”

According to the City, the app will not collect data on its users or create profiles of them. The app will only collect data that users provide about bike parking issues to inform those who install and improve bike parking.

The City of Toronto is encouraging local businesses to use the app to better understand the gaps in bicycle parking and to learn where improvements can be made on their property.

For parking provided along streets, the City will review the data to inform current processes for new and improved bike parking.

“The BikeSpace app is a great example of the City, its civic community and tech talent coming together to support cyclists in our city by tackling shared challenges,” said Mayor John Tory.

“This offers the cycling community an easy tool to share information with each other and the City to help improve our cycling infrastructure.”

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