Nineteen leading innovators in the automotive, bicycle and technology sectors have launched the Coalition for Cyclist Safety to work towards advancing and deploying connected transportation solutions to help reduce the risks facing cyclists and e-bike riders on North American roads.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control, bicycles constitute one percent of all trips across the United States, but represent two percent of all traffic fatalities. More than 130,000 cyclists suffer injuries a year riding bicycles in US traffic.

The new organization represents a commitment to develop a comprehensive approach to bicycle safety centered on deployments of vehicle-to-everything technology.

In the last year, the US Department of Transportation has embarked on strategies to unlock the connected V2X ecosystem as a key technological solution to improve road safety for vulnerable road users.

Members of the Coalition believe that V2X has safety benefits, as well as the potential to reduce congestion. The new Coalition is committed to deploying critical components of that roadmap to improve safety for cyclists, and enlist other supporters for this mission.

The Coalition participants intend to work together on integrating bicycles into the future V2X communication ecosystem. By enabling V2X-equipped cars, bicycles and other road participants can recognize each other and create mutual awareness, thereby raising the possibility of lowering the number of injuries from crash situations.

Additionally, these efforts will benefit from insights and advice provided by cycling, safety and smart-transportation advocates and associations under an Advisory Committee of the Coalition.

The founding coalition members are:

• Automotive – Audi, Cariad; Bicycle – Accell, AT-Zweirad, BMC, Bosch eBike Systems, Koninklijke Gazelle, Shimano, Trek Bicycle Corp.

• V2X Technology – Autotalks, Commsignia, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., Spoke Safety

• Telecommunication – Deutsche Telekom, TELUS.

The Coalition’s Advisory Committee will include: ITS America, League of American Bicyclists, People for Bikes, and The Governors Highway Safety Association.

Cycling can provide many environmental, economic, and health benefits and thus has grown in popularity across the United States and Canada in recent years. With the increase in cycling comes an increased need for cyclists and motorists to share the road more safely. In addition to physical infrastructure to further enable safer cycling, timely safety alerts—powered by connected, V2X technologies—may help to reduce crashes by ensuring that bicycles “digitally” see cars and cars see bicycles.

Through internal research, as well as publicly available data, Audi estimates there will be 5.3 million vehicles, work zones, railway crossings, bicycles, and other devices that will be capable of connecting using C-V2X by 2025. By 2030, it is possible that numbers will increase to 61 million connected devices, including as many as 20,000 crosswalks, 60,000 school zones, 216,000 school buses, and 45 million smartphones.

To make road traffic safer and more efficient for all participants, the Bosch Group is committed to expanding its engagement in V2X technologies through the Bosch eBike Systems division to also ensure the integration of bicycles into the V2X ecosystem.

To unlock the potential of the V2X ecosystem and to make streets safer for road users, the industry initiative follows a holistic approach and aims to integrate relevant stakeholders and decision-makers. The companies in the initiative are committed to individually develop, implement, and deploy V2X solutions, components and applications. By cooperating with regulators and infrastructure operators at varying governmental levels, the companies aim to ensure that the guidelines for V2X deployment are clear and that the relevant infrastructure requirements are met. The industry initiative advocates for cyclists to be included in V2X developments and will therefore also work closely with other representatives of bicycle and eBike interest groups.

The V2X Coalition will begin its work in the United States and Canada. To start the topic and to gain early safety benefits, the initiative begins with solutions based on cellular V2X technology (C-V2X). From the United States and Canada, the initiative will explore ways also to bring joint industry approaches to Europe and other regions of the world.