From Tim Barton at Bunt & Associates:
Message in a Bottle: BikeMaps.org Blitz
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Vancouver cyclists should check their bike bottle holders on Thursday, June 18, 2015. Transportation Planners & Engineers from Bunt & Associates will be blitzing bike racks across the City to raise awareness about cycling safety.
Each water bottle contains a message inviting the unsuspecting owner to help improve cycling safety by mapping crashes, near misses, hazards, and thefts to the BikeMaps.org website, developed as part of a research program at the University of Victoria (UVic). Bunt & Associates and UVic, together with Simon Fraser University (SFU), are undertaking a joint project to use the BikeMaps data to study cycling safety in the City.
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About BikeMaps.org:
BikeMaps.org is a global mapping system that allows citizens to map locations of cycling incidents and report on the nature of the event, developed by Dr. Trisalyn Nelson’s team at the University of Victoria. Released in October 2014, within 2 months the website had more than 14,000 visitors and mapping in 14 countries. An Android app is now available with an iPhone version coming in July.
I have already logged various troubled spots that I encounter. I encourage others to do so, this is how change can happen.
It’s a cool research project. Just remember to always also report hazards to your local municipality so that the problems can get fixed.