Smart Junctions Prioritise Pedestrians and Cyclists

TfGM rolls out 20 smart junctions across the city in a scheme to promote travel modes such as cycling and walking during Covid-19 pandemic.

08:44 21 November 2020

Transfort for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has rolled out a scheme that aims to prioritise alternative travel modes such as walking and cycling amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. The scheme uses sensors as well as artificial intelligence and 5G to improve the city's transport, reduce journey times and cut pollution. 

 

The scheme, which was launched earlier this year and developed in collaboration with AI firm Vivacity Labs, is now being scaled up to cover additional 20 junctions in Manchester by the end of 2021. The 'smart junction' scheme is the latest innovation that TfGM has adopted for its Bee Network, a 2,896-kilometre joined-up walking and cycling matrix connecting communities across the city-region. 

 

Mark Nicholson, CEO of Vivacity Labs, said: “Since the pandemic, commuter trends and traffic hotspots have changed completely, and cities need AI to help protect people no matter what mode of transport they take. Our vision is to help cities implement critical policies addressing safety, air quality, sustainable travel, and congestion, at a hyper-local level.”

 

The rollout is part of a three-year Innovate UK co-funded program to use AI to optimise traffic networks. In July 2020, the scheme secured additional funding to expand throughout the trial region via the UK Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport's 5G Create Fund.