GPS Tracking Applications 

Tracking applications allow users to share information generated by GPS in their mobile devices about the paths they use to travel. These data are an excellent source of planning information because they show paths really taken by users and can provide real time information about speeds or performance conditions. Many tracking applications allow users to add information to maps such as problems.

Waze is the most familiar tracking application. It tracks users to identify real time roadway traffic conditions and allows users to enter data (e.g., accident locations). Waze is combined with a travel planner that provides users on fastest routes given real time traffic conditions.

Tracking applications have also been developed for sustainable transport modes: public transport, biking and walking. Fitness applications are an especially good source of information on biking and walking.

Cities are increasingly using (buying) data from tracking applications developed by private companies. For example, many cities are working with Waze to obtain traffic data and with fitness application developers like Strada to obtain bicycling data. In some cases cities have developed partnership programs where they provide certain data to the developers and the developers provide data to the city in return. See The Social Network That Helps Planners Understand Pedestrians and Cyclists from CityLab (Nov 2017) for more.

Agencies planning to use tracking data need to consider:

• Data privacy?
• Should agencies buy data from commercial app developers or develop their own apps?
• Are application users typical (i.e. not competitive bike riders)?
• Should cities plan for typical app users?

The next sections outline tracking data applications for sustainable transport modes.