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Make your commute count - Strava launches Global Bike to Work Day (+ video)

Data from 10 May initiative will help urban planners shape cities for people on bikes

Strava has launched Global Bike to Work Day, with the inaugural edition taking place a fornight tomorrow on Tuesday 10 May – and due to its Strava Metro initiative, taking part could end up making your commute more bike-friendly.

There are already similar initiatives in countries around the world, of course – in the UK, Cycle to Work Day on 3 September last year saw a record 32,763 people participate, an 88 per cent increase on the previous year, racking up nearly half a million miles between them.

The difference with the Strava initiative – besides the fact it is a worldwide one, and billed as the biggest such event ever – lies in the network’s ability to capture and use data gathered from its members’ rides.

Anonymised data from Strave Metro relating to commutes uploaded to the ride and run-tracking website are used by more than 70 organisations and government agencies in cities worldwide, says the company.

> London & Glasgow sign up with Strava to find out where cyclists ride

That allows urban planners to see where improvements to infrastructure are needed for people on bike or on foot, says Strava, which adds that nearly half the activities logged on it in dense urban areas relate to commuting.

UK-based cycling artist Rich Mitchelson has created this short film which shows how Strava Metro works and highlights the #CommutesCount hashtag that has been devised for Global Bike to Work Day.

Strava’s VP of marketing, Gareth Nettleton, said; "Strava Metro is a revolutionary product that only a business like Strava can create.

“We’ve been helping runners and cyclists track their activities since 2009, and their billions of anonymised data points have given us a unique perspective on how they move through urban areas.

“When we combine our perspective with local government data and research, Strava can be a very insightful partner to urban planners and municipalities that want to promote and improve cycling in their city.”

His message to the network’s members is: “Your Strava commute counts because every activity has the potential to make a difference to cycling in your area.

“It doesn’t matter if you ride 1 mile or 50 miles, if you ride to work on 10th May you can be a part of a global movement to make cities better for cyclists.”

If you take part, you'll also get the Global Bike to Work Day Strava Challenge Badge.

Global Bike to Work Day Strava Challenge Badge.png

 

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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4 comments

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bigshape | 7 years ago
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had to be on a Tuesday, the one day of the week that I have to drive to work...
oh well, any initiative that gets more people on bikes and out of cars is a good thing.

agree with the previous comment about the UK cycle to work day being at the wrong time of year.

one of my suggestions on the feedback page from the last couple of years would be to introduce a cycle to work day every quarter.

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me | 7 years ago
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f off strava.  Change the tune, the world doesn't exist to feed the likes of strava with free data.  Would they care to name any organisations that make good use of our data

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bgw | 7 years ago
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Sadly last day at old job.  So will defer it to another day.

Also IMHO, never understood why we have our national cycle to work day towards the end of the 'light & fair weather period of the year!!!?!  If you want to encourage people to take it up to commute.  Do it in Spring and they might just keep going!

PS I'm personally all year round cyclist 

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Daveyraveygravey | 7 years ago
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Brilliant, the morning after the Fred.  I'll be too busy trying to drive back down the M6 to get in to work before lunchtime to worry about cycling.  If I can face the bike again after the Fred!

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