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“Too close? – more safety at a distance!”
A citizen science project at the Technological University of Applied Sciences Wildau powered by Innovation Hub 13.
Together with the citizens of Brandenburg, we measure the overtaking distance between bicycles and cars and use the OpenBikeSensor to check whether minimum clearances according to traffic laws are being observed.
Assist in building up a database on overtaking distances between bicycles and cars to make cycling in Brandenburg safer! Get to know some interesting people and participate in a research project that is collecting important data to enable the mobility transition.
The "Too close?" project aims to answer a specific question for road traffic: How close are cyclists actually being overtaken by cars or HGVs? Since cyclists are endangered if the overtaking distance is too small and accidents can occur, the Road Traffic Act (StVO) stipulates a minimum distance of one and a half meters (in town) or two meters (outside of town) when overtaking bicycles. Many are not even aware that cyclists are endangered if the distance is reduced or that these regulations even exist. Currently, the police do not check such traffic violations.
Studies show that bicycles are often not even used for fear of the risks encountered in traffic. Together with Brandenburg citizens who seek involvement, we intend to find out which circumstances, e.g. with parked cars, speed limits, road widths, etc., lead to this distance not being maintained. Ultimately, the project aims to create awareness and make cycling safer for everyone.
The project is being implemented in three steps: Firstly, the OpenBikeSensor is being assembled from individual components and tested under supervision in several workshops. In the second phase, participants are asked to regularly use the OpenBikeSensor while they are cycling. Finally, the data are then evaluated.
As part of "Too close? - more safety at a distance!", Innovation Hub 13, the BMVI endowed professorship for cycling, the Makerspace ViNN:Lab of the TUAS Wildau, the Luckenwalde location and the Makerspace COLab at BUT Cottbus-Senftenberg are all cooperating together.
Motto: “make, ride and measure”
MAKE: Citizens are invited to attend a workshop in the ViNN:Lab makerspace in Wildau or at the Luckenwalde location and to assemble a sensor for distance measurement from the OpenBikeSensor open source project under guidance.
RIDE: Charge the display and sensor, activate the GPS device and off you go on a measurement ride with your sensor attached to your bike in traffic.
MEASURE: You have been overtaken? By pressing a small button on the handlebars, the overtaking manoeuvre is logged and the distance measured is shown on the display. The routes taken and the overtaking manoeuvres are stored.
After a set period of time, the sensors are read out in the presence of the project staff at TUAS Wildau before the data obtained are evaluated. The project results shall be presented to citizens and politicians from the region and discussed together with them. Using these data, TUAS Wildau intends to initiate a science-guided discussion on the needs of particularly vulnerable road users, such as cyclists. Because only when cycling can be enjoyed safely will it also be used.
The OpenBikeSensor
© CC-BY-SA 4.0 international OpenBikeSensor / mjaschy
The OpenBikeSensor (OBS) currently nominated for the German “Fahrradpreis” Prize, is an open-source project developed by citizens on a voluntary basis, which is designed to help ensure that the legally prescribed bicycle overtaking distance is observed. Equipped with a GPS module and an ultrasonic sensor, the precise location is recorded while being overtaken, the distances to the right and left are measured, and the data are stored on the SD card built into the sensor. The open-source project OBS provides all the construction and circuit diagrams, the associated software, and even the packages that contain all the necessary parts required for self-assembly. This allows the project to be further developed jointly so that everyone is able to use the device with the fewest of resources.
© CC-BY-SA 4.0 international OpenBikeSensor / mjaschy
There is a growing community around the OpenBikeSensor, which is already measuring overtaking manoeuvres in many locations within Germany, and which is constantly developing the technology within the sensors.
We would like to build on this project together with the Brandenburg region. Using the data collected, hazard spots in road traffic shall be identified and subjective assessments are to be recorded and compared with objective recordings. In this way, the need for action can be identified without an accident having to take place first.
We would also like to determine the factors that influence the distance while overtaking. To do this, we shall link the overtaking distances with information such as applicable speed limits, locational settings or existing cycling infrastructure, and attempt to identify any systematic relationships.
Who can take part?
Any interested person is warmly invited to participate. No prior knowledge is required.
Some manual skills, the motivation to learn to solder, and enjoyment of handicrafts and cycling are all advantages. If you are only interested in one of the activities (make or ride/measure), please indicate this in the registration form.
When does the project start?
“Too close? – more safety at a distance!” starts in spring 2022. The precise dates of the workshops shall be announced in due course. The workshops shall be held in small groups in accordance with the current covid legislation (currently 2G plus). Any changes will be announced in good time. The following workshop dates will take place:
ViNN:Lab – Makerspace of TUAS Wildau (Hochschulring 1, Wildau)
Thursday, May 19, 2022 and Friday, May 20, 2022, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m
Thursday, June 9th, 2022 and Friday, June 10th, 2022, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m
Friday, June 24, 2022 and Saturday, June 25, 2022, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m
Luckenwalde location – Makerspace in the business park (Beelitzer Straße 24, Luckenwalde)
Friday, July 1st, 2022, from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday, July 2nd, 2022, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m
Friday, July 8th, 2022, from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday, July 9th, 2022, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m
COLab – Makerspace at BUT Cottbus-Senftenberg (Siemens-Halske-Ring 2, Cottbus)
Friday, July 15, 2022, from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday, July 16, 2022, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m
Friday, July 29, 2022, from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday, July 30, 2022, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m
Where and when can I get sensors if I can't/don't wish to participate in the workshop?
OpenBikeSensors can be collected either at the ViNN:Lab or at the Luckenwalde location. Please also fill out the registration form for renting OpenBikeSensors and you will receive further information from us by e-mail.
Registration
Are you interested in participating in the project "Too close? – more safety at a distance”?
You can use the following link to register for one of the workshops and to rent the OpenBike sensors.
Data Protection Statement
To help us inform you about the Citizen Science project "Too close? - more safety at a distance", we would like to save your contact details.
You can revoke your consent at any time by sending an email to zoe.ingram@th-wildau.de.
We collect, use, and store your personal data exclusively within the framework of the provisions of the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Federal Data Protection Act of the Federal Republic of Germany.
If you have any questions or comments, please reach out to the contact person listed on this page.
Contact
A project cooperation from
Zoe Ingram
Citizen Science
TH Wildau
E: citizen.science@th-wildau.de
T: 0151 502 14 520
Marie Lammel
Citizen Science
TH Wildau
E: citizen.science@th-wildau.de
T: 03375 508 445
Innovation Hub 13
Technical University of Applied Sciences Wildau
BMVI-Stiftungsprofessur Radverkehr
ViNN:Lab
Regional bureau Luckenwalde
COLab
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Technical University of Applied Sciences Wildau
Brandenburg Technical University Cottbus-Senftenberg
The "Innovation Hub 13 - Fast Track to Transfer" of the Technical University of Wildau and the Brandenburg Technical University of Cottbus-Senftenberg is one of the 29 selected winners of the federal government funding initiative "Innovative College", equipped with funds of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research BMBF And the state of Brandenburg. Further information can be found at www.innovative-hochschule.de
