CWATS and Partners Creating a Crowdsourced Cycling App
Open-source software is being used to create digital tools that will make it easier, safer and more fun for cyclists to navigate Essex County and Windsor.
The new project is called C3Tech (short for City-County Cycling Technology). It is the result of a partnership between the County Wide Active Transportation System (CWATS), the Windsor Bicycling Committee, software experts at Parallel 42 Systems and non-profit Windsor Hackforge.
Through community engagement, including town hall forums and hackathons, cyclists and developers will have the opportunity to contribute ideas, data and code to the initiative.
“CWATS is excited to partner with the Windsor Bicycling Committee in creating a regional cycling app,” said Diana Radulescu, active transportation co-ordinator for the County of Essex. “We want to make it as easy as possible for cyclists to navigate the connections between the active transportation routes in Essex County, Windsor and Chatham-Kent.”
City Councillor Kieran McKenzie, chair of the Windsor Bicycling committee, said he is proud it is supporting an initiative to making cycling more accessible.
“The mandate of the Windsor Bicycling Committee is to enhance the safety and viability of bicycling in the City of Windsor,” he said. “Working together with these partners and other stakeholders, as well as the public, will help us to create a tool that will put more riders on the streets and help us as a region to realize all of the social, environmental, economic and public health benefits that active transportation can create.”
A strong proponent of the local tech ecosystem, “Parallel 42 Systems is glad to contribute resources and expertise to an initiative supporting active transportation in our region,” said Parallel 42 Systems lead consultant Doug Sartori. “Hackforge's approach to the project will leverage the strength of the tech community and demonstrate the value of open data and open source software.”
Cyclists can contribute their thoughts and ideas through a short survey and anyone interested can join the Hackforge Discord to connect with organizers, mentors, and developers. Project information and event listings will be updated regularly on the Hackforge website.
Windsor Hackforge is hosing a virtual announcement of the project on Tuesday, Feb. 8, at 12 p.m. Interested parties can use this link to join the launch event on Zoom without pre-registering.
About Windsor Hackforge: Windsor Hackforge is a technology non-profit established in 2012. It focuses on creating connections within and strengthening the local tech community.
About Parallel 42 Systems: Parallel 42 Systems is a partnership of software practitioners that provides consulting and software development services to companies large and small.
About CWATS: The County Wide Active Transportation System (CWATS) is a 400km+ network of active transportation facilities (including multi-use trails, paved shoulders, bike lanes and more) connecting all seven municipalities within Essex County. Construction over the next 20 years will see the network expand to over 1,000 km.
About the Windsor Bicycle Committee: The Windsor Bicycling Committee (WBC) is comprised of 10 members, including one city councillor, who strive to enhance the safety and viability of bicycling in the City of Windsor.