Micromobility data
Shared bikes and scooters generate detailed mobility data that cities and operators use to manage streets. This guide covers micromobility data and how to source it.
Why micromobility data matters
Shared micromobility reshapes short trips and competes for street space. Cities use its data to regulate and plan; operators and analysts use it to optimise and understand demand.
Standards
Open standards, GBFS for availability and MDS for operations and policy, structure much micromobility data, easing access and interoperability while raising their own privacy debates.
The data landscape
- Availability: vehicle locations and status (GBFS).
- Trips: aggregated trip data.
- Operations: fleet and compliance data (MDS).
- Demand: usage patterns.
Privacy
Trip data can reveal individual movements, so aggregation and anonymisation are essential and have been the subject of regulatory attention. Lawful use depends on it.
Common use cases
City regulation and planning, operator optimisation, multimodal mobility analysis, and demand and equity studies.
Sourcing considerations
Coverage varies by city and operator, and definitions differ. Combine standards-based feeds with care for privacy, and confirm licensing.
In a managed model
A managed partner can combine GBFS and aggregated trip data with appropriate anonymisation.
Standards and privacy
Open standards, GBFS for availability and MDS for operations and policy, structure much micromobility data and ease interoperability, though implementations differ and MDS has prompted its own privacy debates. Trip data can reveal individual movements, so aggregation and anonymisation are essential and have drawn regulatory attention; weak aggregation is not lawful.
Coverage and use
Coverage varies by city and operator, and definitions differ, so combining standards-based feeds with care for privacy is the practical approach. Cities use the data to regulate and plan; operators and analysts use it to optimise and understand demand, always at aggregate rather than individual level.
- Shared micromobility generates detailed, regulated mobility data.
- GBFS and MDS standards structure much of it.
- Trip data can reveal individual movements; aggregate and anonymise.
- Coverage and definitions vary by city and operator.
Sources & further reading
- GBFS and MDS (Open Mobility Foundation) specifications.
- City micromobility programmes and open data.
- EDPB: guidance on location data.
- EUR-Lex: Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR).
We combine standards-based feeds and aggregated trip data with appropriate anonymisation. Get a no-obligation quote.