My Routes
Together for the mobility transition - Your contribution counts!
Berlin is on the move – and with your help the mobility transition can become reality. Have you ever wondered how the BVG plans its network and routes and why your bus stop is located precisely where it is? Over a billion passengers annually are spread across 153 bus lines, 22 tram lines, 9 underground lines, and 6 ferry lines – and these numbers are steadily increasing.
In order to meet the demands of a growing city like Berlin and its changing needs, the BVG needs a solid data basis to offer you the best possible transport service. This includes not only the use of public transport but also all the other journeys that you make throughout the day.
Your connection never seems to work? Can't find a good route to your favourite restaurant?
Help us by donating some of your data so that we can improve our service and get one step closer to the transport revolution.
You can easily support us by using the new "My Routes" feature in the BVG Fahrinfo app. Simply enable route recording and allow us to track how you move around Berlin and Brandenburg.
What is "My Routes"?
Planning bus and train services requires data. This in turn requires traffic surveys. Which is why some buses and trains have automatic counters installed in the doors. They detect how many people are travelling and whether, for example, a route is serviced well or if the bus should run more frequently. Prior to its automation, just a few years ago, people would sit in the vehicles and manually count the passengers boarding and alighting. Additionally, people are surveyed every 3 years along different lines. Perhaps you’ve already been surveyed: Where did you board? Where do you change trains? What kind of ticket do you use? With this data, we know which lines our passengers transfer from and to and how they reach their stop.
The survey and subsequent data processing so that it works well statistically are not only a lot of work but also very inflexible in terms of time. Berlin and its people can change a lot in a span of three years, making it impossible to react quickly. With "My Routes", this survey is being brought into the digital age.
Why is "My Routes" being carried out?
There are no busses that go to your friend’s house, so you have to cycle or drive? The
connection on your way home at night is impossible to make and you always have to wait?
There’s simply no reliable data on how Berliners get to their stops, where they transfer, and how they get from their stop to their destination. But in order to improve our service, this data gap must be closed. For example, the collected data can be used to:
- Identify missing direct connections
- Close network gaps
- Optimise night services and connections
- Integrate new mobility options in suitable areas
How does "My Routes" work?
The new "Route Recording" module is integrated into the Fahrinfo app. It is only activated once you have given your consent. It allows your journeys to be recorded in the background using GPS and the sensors in your phone. This data is processed in a pseudonymised way so that it is possible to identify which mode of transport was used (public transport, on foot, by bike or car), but not who used it. This enables us to, for example, analyse the ratio of people who change from the U7 to the U8 at Hermannplatz, versus those who would rather take the M41 or continue on foot. You retain full control: you can turn the route recording on or off at any time via the app settings.
Why you should take part
Your data helps us improve the service. Together for the mobility transition.