“There is so much talk about ‘data driven decisions’ but not enough about ‘decision driven data’.” @plosky.bsky.social 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
#OpenPath2025

Standards discussions are mostly about advocacy and aspiration.

But the proof of success is arriving at widespread adoption, along the lines of “this will probably mostly work.”

Ultimately, there is no confidence and no guarantee that the best possible standard has been achieved. #OpenPath2025

❤️❤️❤️
#OpenPath2025
Transport Data Tools, Brian Ferris
drive.google.com/file/d/13dYi...
Improving OpenStreetMap with Open Data and Open Source, Bryan Housel
docs.google.com/presentation...
Transportation & Data Standards: who need to be involved and why? Eric Plosky
drive.google.com/file/d/1cyAM...

Next up: Shaping the Future of Non-Motorized Mobility – How Transportation Data Tools Shape Discovery, Access, and Travel Experiences with some familiar names: Brian Ferris, Google, Bryan Housel, @bhousel.bsky.social, Open source contributor, Eric Plosky, MobilityData, Bill Howe, UW #OpenPath2025

A member of the audience made the MOST salient point: adjacent property owners bear the responsibility for most sidewalks, despite the obvious and essential value of sidewalks to the overall transportation network—until we fix that we can’t fix the rest
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 #OpenPath2025

Next up: panel discussion on the best practices in data collection, quality assessment, and policy implementation for truly barrier-free transportation. #OpenPath2025
Folks from TCAT and WSDOT present an ambitious vision I can’t begin to synthesize here! tcat.cs.washington.edu/mobility-tra...

But there are NO wheelchair accessible AVs on the market. Cruise had one: it required an aid to ride along and secure the chair.
#OpenPath2025
The industry practice of regulatory preemption makes it difficult to push for innovation, or to require discounts for low income, transit dependent riders.

Nevertheless the state of things for accessibility is mixed. In trials, many users with disabilities appreciate the consistency of the AV experience, including reliably allowing service animals, it makes adaptation easier. #OpenPath2025

Auromated vehicles could be a boon for urban transit! The consistency and fast response times can save lives. But the “move fast and break things” can have horrific consequences, see for example the tragedy in SF that led to the demise of Cruise www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/s... #OpenPath2025

I’m at Open the Paths 2025 today, a conference dedicated to advancing mobility and accessibility #OpenPath2025.

This year the focus is on how transportation data, or lack thereof, affect people and active transportation in communities: tdei.cs.washington.edu/open-the-pat...