Greater Madison Data Bike

MPO Data Bike

The Greater Madison MPO recently purchased an e-cargo bike to collect pavement-condition data and 360° trail imagery across the Greater Madison region. Equipped with sensors and cameras, the bike measures trail roughness and captures geolocated photos for Street View platforms.

As our trail network ages, it’s important to monitor conditions and keep paths in good shape so they remain safe, smooth, and accessible. Traditional pavement-rating equipment used on roads is too large and fast for trails, so the Data Bike offers a more practical, trail-friendly solution.

How the Data Will Be Used

The information collected will help local municipalities prioritize maintenance and plan long-term improvements across the region. The 360° imagery will also be available to the public, so you can check out trail conditions before heading out for a ride or walk.

In the future, the Data Bike may also support other trail projects, like mapping signage, identifying gaps or barriers, measuring sidewalk panel displacement, and improving wayfinding.

Data Bike Naming Contest

We’re in the process of choosing a name for our new data bike—and we invited community members and partners to help! The deadline to submit name suggestions was July 7, 2025. Thank you to everyone who shared a fun or creative idea!

Next up: In the coming weeks, we’ll launch a short community survey where you can vote for your favorite names from the submissions. Stay tuned!

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