Enschede combines cycling data and initiatives to promote cycling along the F35 through-route
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The challenge: collecting data and motivating cyclists on a regional route
The F35 is a major regional cycling route that connects Enschede with the surrounding areas. The municipality has two objectives for this route: to gain insight into its actual usage, and to actively encourage cyclists to continue using the route and to choose to cycle more often.
Both objectives place demands on the technical implementation. To ensure reliable cycling data, a sensor is needed that measures continuously, even when traffic intensity varies and different types of road users—such as cyclists, cargo bikes, and pedestrians—are present. To encourage cycling, a tool is needed that reaches cyclists at the right moment, right on the route itself, with relevant and motivating information.
In addition, the solution had to fit within the broader framework of the European MegaBITS program and be developed in collaboration with Heijmans N.V. as the implementing partner.
The solution: Quanta sensor with display along the F35, in collaboration with Heijmans
A Quanta sensor, combined with an information display, has been installed along the F35 cycle route in Enschede. The Quanta continuously measures bicycle traffic and distinguishes between different categories of road users: cyclists, cargo bikes, and pedestrians. The data is processed via the MyCycleTraffic platform, which provides the municipality with real-time insight into numbers and categories.
The display shows the number of cyclists per direction of travel and the total. Current time and weather information is also displayed by default. The municipality can easily customize the screen using text, images, and icons. This makes the display suitable for campaigns, real-time route information, or other messages that directly appeal to cyclists.
The project was carried out in collaboration with Heijmans N.V. and demonstrates how public and private partners can work together to create a practical and future-proof solution along a major cycling route.
“Data, information, and initiatives to encourage cycling all come together along the route, right where cyclists encounter them.”
The result: a continuous cycling route that tracks, informs, and encourages
The City of Enschede now has access to continuous bicycle traffic data on one of the region’s most important routes. The Quanta sensor records daily usage of the F35, broken down by category and direction of travel. The city can access this data directly through the MyCycleTraffic platform. Additionally, the data is made available on the NDW Dexter portal, making it accessible for broader analysis and policy-making.
At the same time, the display engages cyclists along the route. The municipality can quickly update messages and tailor them to ongoing campaigns or current situations, without any technical barriers. This makes the display a flexible and accessible communication tool that adapts to the municipality’s needs.
The project demonstrates how data, information provision, and cycling promotion come together in a practical way along a continuous cycling route. The partnership with Heijmans N.V. illustrates how public-private partnerships contribute to future-proof cycling infrastructure.