Two friends and fellow students, Alessandro Heirman (27) and Lindert Bottelberghe (25), from Ghent have developed software to catch motorists overtaking cyclists in a bicycle zone.

“In combination with artificial intelligence (AI), we have developed a software system capable of using cameras, which can even be already installed cameras, to detect cars overtaking a cyclist in a bicycle zone.”

UTO Technologies

After completing their studies in SME Management and Business Administration, the two founded UTO Technologies, a data company specializing in mobility data.

The two were already working on projects for the city of Ostend, but the stories about unsafe cycling zones kept haunting them, especially since someone in their immediate circle had been involved in a cycling accident. That got them thinking.

“We live in Ghent, and we also saw and heard from friends that it is really unsafe in some cycling zones because drivers pay little attention to the overtaking ban. If no officer or patrol car is in sight, cyclists are swiftly overtaken.” So, they developed a software system capable of using cameras to catch offenders in the act.

‘Not paid per fine’

Alessandro Heirman emphasizes that the developed system helps the police make bicycle zones safer. “Our software detects potential violations. These are passed on to the police, who then decide whether a fine will actually follow.” 

Given the uproar surrounding average-speed checks conducted by private companies, they emphasize that they are not paid per fine. “Municipalities that want to start using our software to make bicycle zones safer only pay a license from us.”

Other cities

The privacy aspects of the control system were also thoroughly investigated: faces, for example, are immediately made unrecognizable.

Other cities have already shown interest in the software. For instance, the city of Sint-Niklaas is starting a pilot project next week, and Mechelen will follow after the Easter holidays.