The Immediate Safety Need
I am urgently requesting that you integrate electric bicycle and scooter riders into the Waze traffic map. I believe the primary need is not just navigation for the riders themselves, but to increase the visibility of these vehicles in the eyes of the car drivers who use the application.
I see that Light Electric Vehicles (LEVs) – e-scooters and e-bikes – have become an integral part of urban and intercity traffic. They travel on the edge of roads, in bus lanes, and on bike paths close to driving lanes, and they pose a significant risk for accidents, mainly because drivers are often completely unaware of their immediate presence.
The Proposed Solution: Add a "Rider Mode" for Reporting
I propose developing a new "Rider Mode" under 'Vehicle Type,' which would serve two main purposes:
1. Visibility and Alerts for Drivers (The Safety Aspect):
Active Presence Marking: A rider who selects this mode would be marked as an "active Waze user" on the map, similar to a car or motorcycle, but with a unique icon (e.g., a helmet or a scooter).
Automatic Safety Alerts: Waze could warn car drivers who are approaching a rider or a group of riders from behind. The alert could be audible ("Caution: Cyclist ahead") or visual on the screen.
Hazardous Areas: Warnings could be issued to drivers in advance of areas prone to riding (e.g., a road section without a dedicated bike lane, or a popular riding zone).
2. Specific Reporting for Riders (The Community Aspect):
Reporting Road Hazards: Giving riders the option to report specific dangers that threaten them and low-profile vehicles (such as potholes, obstacles in the bike lane, or a blocking car). These reports would also benefit other drivers.
Mutual Safety Cooperation: Riders could report the presence of police/inspectors focusing on LEVs, thereby creating a reciprocal safety community (as Waze currently does for cars).
The Unique Advantage of Waze
Other navigation apps offer cycling routes, but Waze is the only application used by millions of drivers on the roads worldwide. I believe the solution to the LEV safety problem lies in Waze's unique ability to connect heavy vehicle users (cars) with light vehicle users (e-bikes/scooters) on the same platform.
I am confident that adding this feature will not only improve rider safety but will also help drivers be more focused, reduce the element of surprise, and ultimately save lives and reduce the number of traffic accidents.
I urge the Waze development team to prioritize the immediate addition of this critical safety feature.