FixMyBerlin — Cycling Infrastructure Platform

FixMyBerlin is a civic technology initiative based in Berlin that aims to support the city's transformation into a bicycle-friendly metropolis. Founded with the backing of the Berlin Senate and borough councils, this project creates interactive platforms that visualize cycling infrastructure data, communicate planned improvements, and collect citizen feedback. By doing so, FixMyBerlin makes urban transport planning processes more transparent and accessible for all residents.

The initiative originated from frustrations regarding the slow progress and inadequate communication concerning cycling infrastructure improvements in Berlin. Despite political commitments to enhance the bike network, many residents lacked clear information on planned developments, ongoing constructions, and the safety of current routes. The founding team, comprising software developers, designers, transport planners, and data specialists, set out to build user-friendly digital tools that present cycling data in an easy-to-understand format. Their mission is to assist Berlin—and potentially other cities—on their journey towards becoming cycling-friendly urban environments.

The core tool of FixMyBerlin is an interactive online map that visualizes Berlin's cycling infrastructure with multiple data layers. This map displays existing bike lanes, planned improvements, and safety assessments, helping users understand the conditions of different routes. It aggregates data from various sources, including official municipal planning documents, OpenStreetMap, and user-submitted reports, creating a comprehensive overview that is not easily assembled by either the government or citizens alone.

The Happy-Bike-Index is a composite measure developed to assess cycling comfort and safety on street segments. It combines objective infrastructure data, such as lane width and surface quality, with subjective citizen assessments to provide a score that indicates where cycling is pleasant or hazardous. This index assists planners in prioritizing investments and allows citizens to choose safer routes.

FixMyBerlin has also introduced TILDA, an open-source tool designed for administrative staff in Berlin's borough offices. TILDA provides access to cycling and parking infrastructure data from OpenStreetMap, supporting planners and decision-makers who need reliable data but lack the technical skills to query databases directly. This tool is published under the AGPL-3.0 open-source license, reflecting the project's commitment to transparency.

The project adheres to the principles of open data and open-source software. All code is publicly available on GitHub, and FixMyBerlin actively improves the quality of cycling infrastructure data in Berlin. This open approach allows for adaptation in other cities and enables the reuse of data by researchers and civic tech projects.

FixMyBerlin collaborates closely with CityLAB Berlin, a public innovation lab that provides methodological support and connections to the broader Berlin innovation ecosystem. This partnership has helped FixMyBerlin transition from a citizen-facing platform to a tool that meets the needs of municipal transport planners.

Since its inception, FixMyBerlin has gained significant attention as a model for data-driven, citizen-centric urban transport planning. Achievements include doubling the visibility of Berlin's cycling infrastructure plans, providing borough councils with standardized data tools, and contributing to the European open data community.

For housing cooperatives and community-based organizations, FixMyBerlin's work is directly related to liveability and sustainable neighborhood design. Access to safe cycling infrastructure significantly impacts residents' quality of life. Housing developers can utilize FixMyBerlin's data to assess cycling accessibility, advocate for infrastructure improvements, and demonstrate the availability of sustainable mobility options.