Digital device to count cycles at Doddanekundi

By NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: In a move to encourage cycling, a digital device is installed at Doddanekundi Outer Ring Road that will count the number of cycles moving in both directions of the road.

It is said to be the first artificial intelligence and sensor-based bicycle counter in the country installed under the Directorate of Urban Land Transport’s (DULT) Sustainable Mobility Accords (SuMA) initiative and with the help of Sensing Local.

V Manjula, Commissioner of DULT said that the bicycle counter would record the number of cyclists who have passed by the counter at any specific point of time.”The objective is to demonstrate that people are willing to cycle if cycle lanes are provided. We will also get data on the number of cyclists who use cycle lanes, for planning purposes. The counter will also create awareness among other road users about the purpose of the cycle lane. Presently, one counter has been installed. Two more counters will be installed shortly. After the pilot phase, a decision will be taken on scaling up the initiative. It’s the first indigenous and innovative solution, based on artificial intelligence. The counter started functioning on Sunday afternoon. The average number of cyclists recorded per day on Monday and Tuesday was approximately 500,” she said.

Nihar Thakkar, a software developer, tweeted: “Super excited to have built & installed the city’s first #LiveBicycleCounter! Located next to the ORR cycle lane in Doddanekundi, it will help collect usage data, make the impact of the cycle lane more visible & encourage cycling.”