The UK's Transport for London (TfL) has invited app designers to improve help its services for cyclists in the city by presenting travel information in new ways. 

The transport body has added mapping information of eight Cycle Superhighways and one Quietway to its open data portal and asked app developers to make improvements in order to make it easy for Londoners to access this application and find the best cycling routes. 

TfL explained that it will be including the information of the new Superhighways and Quietways once they are open.

As part of the plan, the government has allocated £2.1bn to a new TfL Healthy Streets Portfolio that will focus on getting Londoners walking, cycling and using public transport. 

App developers can combine the new data with that previously released, which provided information about the cycle parking locations at the London Underground stations, and information on the location and availability of bikes from the 780 Santander Cycles docking stations across the city.

The transport authority anticipates that the real-time travel data would help developers to create better products and services, which enables cyclists to plan their routes conveniently.

TfL surface transport strategy and outcome planning head Lilli Matson said: “The introduction of our growing Cycle Superhighways and Quietways networks has helped encourage thousands to Londoners to take to two wheels.

"By providing accurate route information to developers through our open data network, we can help cyclists plan their routes more easily, as well as see where cycle parking or their nearest docking station is."

“By providing accurate route information to developers through our open data network, we can help cyclists plan their routes more easily, as well as see where cycle parking or their nearest docking station is.”

Currently, more than 600 apps use TfL data, and these applications are accessed by millions of people across the London city for planning their journey using public transport.

Data has been released to developers as part of Mayor of London's new blueprint for a healthy London.

The government expects that the new initiative would reduce car usage by people in London, help them be more active, and address London's air pollution crisis. 


Image: TfL invites app designers to help them improve their services to cyclists. Photo: courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net/Phil_Bird.