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February 8, 2019
Car-sharing locations need to be revised to tackle car ownership, says Drivy
The only way to reduce car ownership is to stop putting car-sharing vehicles in places where people travel - and start putting them in places where they live. This was one of the main messages from the 'Future of Global Urban Mobility' event, hosted in London last night by global research agency Kadence International. Speaking at the London Transport Museum, Patrick Foster, chief business development officer at car-share marketplace Drivy, says: "OEMs want to give you a car for free if you start sha
February 6, 2019
RTD joins forces with Uber for trip planning in Denver
The Regional Transportation District (RTD) in Denver, Colorado, has entered into an agreement which will allow its riders to view transit routes within Uber’s app. RTD says the collaboration will allow commuters to plan their travel with additional first/last mile options. Riders can select the app’s ‘Transit’ option to see available routes, real-time schedules and walking directions to and from stations. Looking ahead, the partnership intends to allow riders to purchase RTD tickets via the app,
February 1, 2019
Flir updates ThermiCam2 thermal traffic sensor and detector
Flir has upgraded its thermal traffic sensor and detector with traffic data collection features. The company says ThermiCam2 uses thermal energy emitted from road users – rather than light - to detect vehicles and vulnerable road users at night, over long distances and in harsh weather conditions. According to Flir, the solution can be used to detect vehicles and bicycles approaching an intersection, detect wrong-way drivers, count and distinguish vehicles from bicycles and collect traffic data using the
February 1, 2019
Stage Intelligence AI platform deployed in Latin America
Stage Intelligence’s Bico artificial intelligence (AI) platform is being used by Tembici to help increase the usability of more than 16,000 bikes across Latin America. The Bico platform is expected to help bike-share companies increase ridership by ensuring that bikes and docks are available for riders. Tom Nutley, CEO at Stage, says: “A smarter approach to transport results in sustainable bike share schemes but also healthy and happier riders and communities.” Initially, the deployment will cover citi
February 1, 2019
ID Tech and IIT Ropar explore IoT and RFID applications for smart cities in India
Developing smarter cities in India is the goal of a tie-up between smart card company ID Tech and the Institute of Technology (ITT) Ropar, an academic institution in the northern India state of Punjab. ITT Ropar, which specialises in engineering, science and technology, will join ID Tech in looking at how Internet of Things (IoT) and radio frequency identification (RFID) can help. ID Tech director Saurav Khemani says: “We aim to address social challenges posed by rapid urbanisation and economic develo
January 31, 2019
Virginia and Transurban spend $1bn on infrastructure to improve congestion
The US state of Virginia and road operator Transurban are investing more than $1 billion in four projects to help tackle congestion on the I-495 and I-95. The partners want to establish a 90-mile network of connected Express Lanes throughout Northern Virginia and Fredericksburg by 2022. Virginia Department of Transportation (VDoT) and Transurban have signed an agreement for the first project, Capital Beltway Express Lanes Northern Extension. The new 2.5-mile area will offer four general purpose lanes and
January 30, 2019
Disability Rights California sues San Diego over dockless scooters
While the clutter from mis-used dockless scooter schemes is frustrating for many, it is physically unsafe for some, according to a legal action in the US. Disability Rights California slams an ‘unregulated onslaught’ in its class action lawsuit against the City of San Diego and three dockless scooter firms: Lime, Bird and Razor. “This action challenges the failure of the City of San Diego and private companies to maintain the accessibility of the city’s public sidewalks, kerb ramps, crosswalks and transit
January 29, 2019
NUMO alliance erects ‘big tent’ to build more sustainable cities
A new alliance has formed to help governments and cities around the world integrate ride-hailing, dockless bikes and scooters and autonomous vehicles into communities. NUMO (New Urban Mobility Alliance) is to launch a range of pilot projects and will conduct public engagement research in cities which it hopes will serve as a guide to policy makers and the private sector. Zipcar co-founder Robin Chase, executive chair of NUMO’s steering committee, explained: “The pace of innovation and disruption on
January 25, 2019
ERM bolsters StarLink telematics platform to improve car-sharing services
Israeli company ERM Advanced Telematics is improving its StarLink product to include add-ons which allow car-sharing companies to control and immobilise a vehicle to prevent unauthorised use. The StarLink telematics device serves as a foundation solution in which users can choose the DoorLock add-on or one of the company’s eCut immobilisation products. Called StarLink Tracker SF BT, the solution comes with Bluetooth communication as well as a driver behaviour feature. It uses sensors and Canbus integrat
January 25, 2019
Colorado signs exec order to support transition to ZEVs
Governor of Colorado Jared Polis has signed an executive order which outlines a suite of initiatives to support a transition to zero emission vehicles (ZEV) in the US state. Polis says: “Our goal is to reach 100% renewable electricity by 2040 and embrace the green energy transition already underway economy-wide” He believes the public health and environmental benefits of widespread transportation electrification will increase as the state moves towards a cleaner electric grid. The initiatives include