Leave it to the Scandinavian countries to always be on the forefront of all things progressive and sustainable. MIT researchers unveiled a new project last week which will transform bicycle use and promote urban sustainability in Copenhagen, Denmark’s capital.
SmartBiking, as the project is called, will employ “smart tags” that will allow local Copenhagen residents to log their miles and exchange basic information with other riders. There is even a Facebook application called “I Crossed Your Path” that’s been developed to work with the program so riders can social network their way to more bike miles and less carbon emissions. Since cycling residents will be logging their miles through the system, there will also be a citywide “green mileage” initiative; like a frequent flier program but for your bike travels.
In the future, monitoring cycling activity will allow cities like Copenhagen to possibly enter carbon-trading schemes, which would bring funding to sustainable city projects that are making a concerted effort to cut carbon emissions.
The initiative couldn’t come at a better time: Copenhagen is gearing up to host the November 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference. Get on your bikes Danes and show the rest of the world that personal decisions do in fact have an effect on sustainability.
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