SE Valley Times

In the wake of a tragic accident, a new initiative is aiming to enhance safety for cyclists. The Rob Dollar Foundation, named after avid cyclist Rob Dollar who was killed by a motorist in Phoenix, has collaborated with Arizona State University (ASU) to develop CycleSafe—a device likened to a "dashcam" for bicycles.

John Dollar, Rob's father, founded the organization with a clear mission: “We want to save lives,” he stated. “If we can save even one life, our mission will be a success.” The foundation not only provides free bike safety courses and organizes an annual ride in memory of Rob but also works with local authorities on improving road signage.

CycleSafe represents the latest effort by the foundation to promote safer cycling conditions. Developed with ASU's School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence faculty and students from the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, CycleSafe attaches to bike handlebars and links with mobile phones. It activates when cars approach too closely, recording data and images that include vehicle license plates.

Robert Heinrichs, an associate teaching professor at ASU who began cycling during the COVID-19 pandemic, joined forces with John Dollar after meeting him at a foundation event. Together they sought better software solutions for an existing prototype developed by Daniel Latt from the University of Arizona.

Heinrichs enlisted software engineering master's students to enhance CycleSafe’s capabilities as part of their capstone project. The application now logs incidents between cyclists and vehicles by recording precise details such as date, time, location, and captures up to 30 photos per incident while automatically recognizing license plates.

The project resonates personally for Heinrichs due to his own experiences on the road: “Maybe there are certain intersections where dangerous encounters happen very frequently,” he noted regarding potential data insights from CycleSafe reports.

Testing on an updated version is set for December 2024. Plans are underway to produce around 200 prototypes by May 2025 for trials nationwide—an endeavor driven by hopes that sharing comprehensive data might influence both public awareness and law enforcement strategies against unsafe driving practices near cyclists.

Reflecting on common frustrations drivers express about sharing roads with bikes, John emphasized empathy: “That’s not a bike; that’s a person," he reminded. "In a collision you’re not just damaging a bike—you’re hurting someone important.”