BIKE Worcester has launched an app which advises cyclists when areas are flooded, writes Toby Almond.
The app shows the status of the riverside paths in the city and whether they are available for use, or are underwater.
It provides information regarding current river levels, using at Environmental Agency level monitors at Barbourne and Diglis.
Bike Worcester has reported previously on the increasing frequency of riverside paths flooding and the impact this has on people travelling by bike in the city.
Dan Brothwell, Chair of Bike Worcester said: “The app came out of a need from the cycling community to know whether the paths were flooded or not so they could plan their route accordingly.
“When the river level starts to rise, there’s usually a flurry of messages asking if certain routes are still open and, in reality, you only know if you go and take a look.
“One of the best things about travelling by bike is that the journey time is predictable, however this isn’t the case if you get to the river and have to turn back due to flooding.”
It compares this with hundreds of crowd sourced observations made by Bike Worcester volunteers over the last year to provide a status for each of the paths.
App users can also submit their own flooded path observations and when the council has removed mud after the water has subsided.
Additional observations will help increase the accuracy of exactly when paths flood.
Al Pagan, Bike Worcester volunteer, worked on the app.
He said: “It’s a simple concept, but we’ve gone through a number of improvements since its conception.
“The paths flood when the river is at different levels, so although one side of the river might be closed, the other side may still be passable.
“We’re hopeful the app will be shared by the city and county councils and will be useful to Worcester residents.
“Knowing the paths are open may be the difference between making a journey by car, foot or bike.”
Bike Worcester represents a growing community of hundreds of local people who ride bikes, aiming to make cycling easier and safer for riders to get to school, work or a leisure trip.
Bike Worcester secretary Rob Collier said journeys by bike of foot benefited everyone in the city.
“It’s a government policy that 50 per cent of journeys should be by foot or bike by 2030, something echoed in the city and county council documents.
“We still need to do much more to enable and encourage this activity in Worcester, and for all of us to reap the benefits.
“If it proves to be useful for Worcester, we may look to roll it out to other towns and cities.”
Visit: bw-floodmap.velocraft.co.uk/ to view the app.
