European climate work needs measurable data – Espoo advances cycling with counting solutions

Smart City Smart Mobility Traffic flow measurement

Already nearly one in ten trips in Espoo is made by bicycle. In the Cycle4Climate project, the city aims to increase this share further and reduce carbon dioxide emissions from transport. The project, co-funded by the EU’s Interreg Central Baltic Programme, supports Espoo’s goal of making cycling a more attractive part of everyday mobility.

The project develops and tests both physical measures and behavioral interventions to increase cycling. In Espoo, the actions and monitoring focus particularly on the Tapiola–Keilaniemi–Otaniemi area, where cycling infrastructure is already of high quality but still has potential for increased usage.

Cycle4Climate is an international collaboration involving, in addition to Espoo, the cities of Gävle (Sweden), Pärnu (Estonia), and Riga (Latvia). The cities develop and evaluate solutions in parallel to generate comparable and transferable knowledge on measures that promote cycling.

Measuring cycling traffic enables impact assessment

A key principle of the project is that the effectiveness of cycling promotion measures is evaluated based on measured data. Continuous monitoring of cycling traffic enables:

tracking changes in cycling volumes,
assessing the impacts of measures before and after implementation,
utilizing data in urban planning and decision-making, and
making cycling more visible as part of the urban environment.

Cycling volumes are also a key indicator when assessing how changes in mobility affect transport emissions.

Cycling traffic measurement in Espoo

As part of the Cycle4Climate project, the City of Espoo selected the Eco-Counter active mobility counting solution provided by Nodeon, which offers an internationally tested and reliable way to monitor and analyze cycling traffic. The solution supports the city’s goal of developing cycling based on long-term, data-driven insights—not only during the project but also afterward.

Eco-Display Compact information screens strengthen the role of cycling as a mode of everyday transport. Image: City of Espoo

The solution delivered by Nodeon is a comprehensive package for measuring and analyzing cycling traffic. It includes accurate and reliable Eco-Counter ZELT Evo counting devices, two Eco-Display Compact information displays for visualizing traffic volumes, planning, installation and implementation, the cloud-based Eco-Visio analytics software, as well as ongoing maintenance and support services.

The inductive loop-based measurement technology produces accurate and interference-free data without visible equipment in the street environment. Data is transmitted directly to the cloud service for expert analysis and open use.

The solution provides Espoo with a practical tool for monitoring and showcasing the development of cycling traffic. At the same time, it promotes sustainable mobility and strengthens Espoo’s position as a goal-oriented developer of cycling among European partner cities.

Learn more about: Nodeon’s traffic flow measurement services