The MegaBITS Steering Group met in Hamburg on 24–25 September to review progress, share experiences, and prepare for the final phase of the project. Partners highlighted flagship achievements, discussed data integration milestones, and looked ahead to the closing events in 2026.
Flagship highlights included Antwerp’s Data Fusion project, which demonstrated the value of combining multiple data sources to better understand cycling safety, Enschede’s launch of a dashboard offering new insights into local cycling patterns, and Hamburg’s work on map-matching techniques to improve the accuracy of GPS data for cycling.
A major focus of the meeting was the Mobility Data Space (MDS). Hamburg has already onboarded data, and other regions are preparing their contributions, with full integration expected by November. This milestone is crucial to demonstrating the platform’s long-term value for both cities and European cooperation.
The group also advanced work on evaluation and knowledge-sharing. A shared framework and questionnaire are being developed to assess the outcomes of the flagship pilots, with results feeding into a “lessons learned” product for wider use. Deadlines were set for autumn to ensure findings can be integrated into final deliverables.
On communication and visibility, partners agreed on the importance of strengthening the reach of the BITS Directory and ensuring MegaBITS results are well represented at key events, including the upcoming events. Dissemination of the Smart Cycling Roadmap also continues, with further presentations planned.
Looking ahead, preparations for the final conference in March 2026 are underway. The event will feature breakout sessions on flagship lessons, data integration, and Floating Bike Data, alongside interactive workshops and poster presentations. Partners are working to ensure wide participation and strong visibility across Europe.
Combined with a bike tour discovering the smart and sustainable cycling infrastructure across the city, the Hamburg meeting reaffirmed the collective ambition of the MegaBITS consortium: to deliver lasting impact for cycling innovation and data-driven mobility planning in Europe.
