The Oldenburg Bicycle Challenge starts in Germany with a gamification app that makes cycling more attractive
Within the BITS project, the Baron mobility service gmbh analyses if an app-based gamification approach nudges people to cycle more often. For the research project, the baron mobility service gmbh cooperates with the Spanish App-provider Ciclogreen, who provides a playful app combining activity recognition and nudging. An overview of their own data (speed, km cycled, calorie consumption, CO2 reduction compared to driving a car) enables users to become aware of their own mobility in general and the influence of their mobility behaviour on the CO2 budget. Various challenges with prices and the possibility to exchange kilometres cycled for discounts will increase the motivation to ride a bike.
The Oldenburg Bicycle Challenge is conducted in the city of Oldenburg and started in September 2020. The citizens of Oldenburg can use the app Ciclogreen for one year with new challenges taking place every four weeks. Every citizen that reaches a certain number of kilometres within the challenge period takes part in a raffle and can win prices. Additionally, for every kilometre cycled a virtual currency is collected which can then be exchanged for vouchers at local cooperation partners such as local stores, restaurants, or cafés. The users can also compete in rankings with other users and connect with them. The app shall motivate the citizens of Oldenburg to cycle more often and thereby actively contribute to climate protection.
In the first three weeks 154 citizens registered, who have already ridden 4009 km on their bikes and e-bikes and saved 1101 kg CO2 compared to car use.
The app use nudging to collect cycling data on the actual route choice and the speed of the cyclists to get a better insight into cycling behaviour and to improve mobility analyses. The objective is to analyse the collected and anonymised data, such as bicycle use, routes travelled, changes in cycling behaviour and CO2 emissions saved compared to car use. The collected cycling data is analysed by the BITS project partner University of Oldenburg/ VLBA. With the implementation, experiences in the use of ITS should be gained and exchanged with the BITS partners.
