Spin, Populus, and StreetLight Data Launch Mobility Data Fellowship

Year-long program will give select nonprofits use of mobility data to advance safer and more livable urban infrastructure 

September 30, 2019 – Spin, Ford’s electric scooter and micromobility subsidiary, is launching an initiative to help non-profit advocates leverage data-gathering tools to fight for infrastructure change. Working with transportation analytics platform StreetLight Data and mobility data platform Populus, Spin is taking submissions from any U.S.-based 501(c)(3) in need of data resources and a toolkit to move their infrastructure project of choice forward.

The toolkit includes access to StreetLight Data and Populus’ SaaS platforms, as well as a speed gun for tracking vehicle speeds, a time lapse camera for tracking changes to street scenes over time, and a bike-ped counter. The goal is to help advocates make data-driven arguments to political stakeholders about the necessity of an infrastructure project they’re working on. The tools will allow them to gather critical data to make the case to a city department; monitor the success of an existing project to ensure the city remains committed; or highlight the need for a project based on an understanding of multimodal traffic in their neighborhood.

“We know how much mobility data matters to cities. But we want to see this data used even more widely in pursuit safe and livable streets.” said Beaudry Kock, Head of Policy Initiatives at Spin. “That’s why we’re putting better data and more powerful visualization tools in the hands of advocates. We’re excited to see what our non-profit partners across the country can do when given the chance to use platforms like Populus and StreetLight Data to make their case to cities.”

“Populus is committed to partnering with cities to deliver a better mobility future,” said Regina Clewlow, CEO of Populus. “Through this partnership, we look forward to empowering advocacy organizations with information that can transform city streets in ways that prioritize the safe, accessible, and efficient movement of people.” 

“Safer, less congested streets are at the core of our mission, and we’re excited to contribute our software to this initiative,” said Martin Morzynski, VP of Marketing & Product Management at StreetLight Data. “Our multimode metrics help planners every day to identify opportunities for improved active mode infrastructure, and we believe that putting the same metrics in the hands of advocates can only lead to more safe streets.”

Any street re-design project, at any stage of development, will be considered, as long as the advocate can articulate clearly their theory of change for seeing that project to fruition, and convey a key role for the use of better data in moving the project along. The organization should have at least 2 years of active history, permanent staff, and a track record of project delivery. Advocates will be selected from a variety of geographies and city sizes, to ensure a diverse group of awardees.

Applications can be submitted here through November 15th: https://www.spin.app/data-safer-streets

About Spin
Headquartered in San Francisco, California, Spin is one of the leading micro-mobility companies and a subsidiary of Ford. Spin has been recognized for launching the first stationless mobility program in the United States and was instrumental in crafting the first mobility permit in the world. As a trusted and reliable partner, Spin currently operates electric scooters in many cities and universities nationwide and is the exclusive operator in dozens of markets. Spin is comprised of a diverse team of experienced professionals from government and private sectors, and the transportation advocacy world, all of whom are committed to fulfilling the company’s mission–giving people the freedom to move and bringing people, communities, and their urban environment closer together.