Sutton and Kingston Councils to use AI technology to improve understanding of the use of cycle lanes

Earlier this year, Sutton and Kingston Councils  announced their partnership  with UK-based transport company  Vivacity Labs  to help improve active travel insight and the safety of high footfall areas.

The councils, as part of the South London Partnership’s  InnOvaTe Project,  will use Vivacity’s AI and Internet of Things (IoT) technology to provide anonymous data on different transport modes and movement patterns.

Sensors will be deployed to gather more information about each borough’s cycle infrastructure, including the number of cyclists currently using the existing cycle lanes and main roads within the borough, and the number of unauthorised vehicles illegally using the spaces. This will help the councils to consider the areas to be included in any future expansion of their cycle infrastructure.

Councillor Manuel Abellan, Chair of the Environment & Sustainable Transport Committee at Sutton Council, said: 

“The Council recognises the need to reduce the amount of private car use and to promote active travel.

“By using this innovative technology, the Council can learn more and gain better insights into the use of its cycle lanes. This will enable us to identify opportunities to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and make progress towards becoming carbon neutral, tackling the climate emergency and being a green borough.”

Councillor Tim Cobbett, Deputy Leader at Kingston Council, said: 

"We are committed to a greener future by developing sustainable transport schemes and cutting-edge initiatives so Kingston can become carbon neutral by 2038. More accurate data can help us with that goal, allowing us to create even better spaces for cyclists and pedestrians.

"The more we know about how our spaces are currently used, and how many journeys are made using different methods of transport, the better our work can be targeted and removing barriers to active travel and ensuring our infrastructure for walking and cycling is targeted where it is needed most and this project will help us to do that."

Mark Nicholson, CEO of Vivacity Labs, commented:

“By understanding how space is being used with detailed and accurate data, councils can make informed and strategic decisions on how best to improve city infrastructure. As restrictions are eased, making roads smarter, safer and more sustainable is vital, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact on cycling that this project will create in the Kingston and Sutton area.”

Thirteen sites have been identified in Sutton to provide a good insight into the cross-borough usage of the cycle infrastructure, which includes areas in Beddington, Hackbridge, Carshalton, Cheam and Worcester Park.

In Kingston, seventeen sites have been identified, including routes in Kingston Town Centre, Surbiton, Tolworth, Chessington and New Malden. 

The scheme will help both councils build an overview of the cycle network to enhance decision-making and the application of bids.
 

About the InnOvaTe Project:
South London Partnership is working with London Councils to deliver an exciting and innovative “Internet of Things” (IoT) project across the five south London Councils of Croydon, Kingston upon Thames, Merton, Richmond upon Thames and Sutton.
 
This initiative is funded by the Strategic Investment Pot (SIP) as part of the London Councils Business Rates Retention scheme which is administered by the City of London Corporation, and hopes to improve people’s lives through the delivery of a multi-purpose Internet of Things (IoT) platform, which will connect various sensors across borough boundaries.
 
The project is led by Sutton Council, which was selected to oversee the project on behalf of the other boroughs.
 
About Vivacity Labs
At Vivacity, our vision is to make cities smarter, safer and more sustainable. Our AI sensors and ‘Smart Junctions’ signal control gather detailed and anonymous data 24/7 on transport modes, traffic flow and travel patterns, supporting strategic decisions to help optimise the transport network and improve urban infrastructure.
Vivacity was awarded the Queen’s Enterprise Award for Innovation in 2021. Our sensors have already been deployed in over 40 towns and cities across the UK, with our international expansion growing.
 
We are passionate about the protection of personal data and our sensors have been developed using privacy-by-design principles to ensure that personal data is never compromised. For more information please visit: www.vivacitylabs.com.
  
Get involved
To keep up with our latest articles, events and more, please sign up to our newsletter.