Strava – the online social sharing platform for cyclists and runners – is often seen as a facilitator for non-racers to exercise their competitive spirit scoring QOM and KOMs. 

However, of the 168 million activities uploaded to the site in 2015, nearly half were commutes – and Strava are using information from people’s rides to help transport and town planners to improve urban environments.

The software that anonymises and aggregates millions or rides every week – Strava Metro – is being used by over 70 organisations and government agencies, working all over the World – from London to Glasgow, to Texas and Australia. They can examine trends to see where cyclists are having problems, being held up, and roads they’re likely to use.

To highlight the importance of the data commuters are able to provide just by uploading their rides, Strava have introduced a new tag – #commutescount – and launched a Global Bike to Work Day, on May 10.

Riders can sign up to join the challenge and pledge to ride on this one special day. Trumping the National Cycle to Work day, in September, this summer mass commute could be one of Strava’s busiest days yet.

To celebrate the plans, Strava commissioned artist Rich Mitch to make a short video to show how Strava Metro works, and the positive impact it can have on our towns…