It’s said that California has a love affair with cars. Indeed, most of the urban areas in the state cater toward the automobile, often at the expense of other modes of transportation. But cycling is gaining in popularity, and the health and environmental benefits are undeniable.
Researchers at UC Santa Barbara will be training AI to map bicycle infrastructure and develop a universal, regional wayfinding plan for the area. The California Department of Transportation has awarded a $480,000 Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant to the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG), which is partnering with UCSB and Simon Fraser University, in British Columbia, on the project.
“Our project goal is to make a new bike route map for the Santa Barbara region,” said Trisalyn Nelson , a geography professor at UCSB and founder of BikeMaps.org. The team will map bicycling comfort levels for roads and paths, allowing people to choose a route that is right for them. Built on AI technology, the map can be updated regularly as our bike infrastructure and roads change.