Sensors on specially equipped bikes can collect information on trail accessibility and pavement conditions to prioritize maintenance projects.

Bicycles equipped with data collection devices are helping communities understand the conditions of their bike lanes and paths, reports Daniel C. Vock for Route Fifty.
“Local planning organizations have deployed them in Idaho, Iowa, Massachusetts and Minnesota,” Vock adds. “The Des Moines area agency produces heat maps of where distressed pavement is located, which helps local governments identify the problem areas quickly.” In Des Moines, the city wants to map out all of the region’s pathways in two years.
Local governments can use this data to build more resilient trails and understand problem areas. Planners can use the information to prioritize areas for improvement when applying for grants and developing maintenance plans.
The technology isn’t without its challenges: “The devices on board also don’t record debris or the slope of the paths, which would also be helpful for devising maintenance plans. And they don’t capture branches growing over the path or other obstacles that could prevent cyclists from using the trail.”
FULL STORY: Rough ride? Data bikes chart the condition of bike paths in more cities

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

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LA’s Tree Emergency Goes Beyond Vandalism
After a vandal destroyed dozens of downtown LA trees, Mayor Karen Bass vowed to replace them. Days later, she slashed the city’s tree budget.

Sacramento Leads Nation With Bus-Mounted Bike Lane Enforcement Cameras
The city is the first to use its bus-mounted traffic enforcement system to cite drivers who park or drive in bike lanes.

Seattle Voters Approve Social Housing Referendum
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