Are you still driving a gas-powered car? As you no doubt already know, it’s yours the reason the planet is warming and the world is running out. But don’t worry, there’s a way you can alleviate some of this guilt without even leaving your car. In fact, stay there in your car.

Amsterdam and Helsinki are my two favorites smart cities. Researchers are looking for local drivers to help enliven these cities.

The project is called Encode streets. They are looking for drivers to test new features in the traffic navigation app TomTomAmiGO and Mercedes-Benz navigation designer. The aim is to better understand how to guide motorists in a more environmentally conscious way.

It’s hard to get people to change their usual car routes. Incentives must be situation-specific and provided in real time while driving.

Encode streets for sustainable routing

In creating this experiment, cities and service providers have built an open application programming interface (API). It allows cities to communicate directly with car drivers through service providers. This allows drivers to be guided to choose alternative sustainable routes.

The pilot is in focus driving drivers far from areas with traditional congestion or poor air quality. Drivers receive information about school districts, traffic congestion, environmental zones and vulnerable infrastructure.

Pilot designers believe that digital tools are also a catalyst for reusing public space for different uses at different times. For example, imagine that a traditional car ride turns into a bike lane in the afternoon and into a terrace in the evening.

The initiative is cooperation. Partners are:

• The city of Amsterdam
• The City of Helsinki
• Aalto university
• Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions (AMS)
• Forum Virium Helsinki
• University of Technology Delft
• Future mobility network

It is funded by TomTom, Mercedes-Benz and EIT Urban Mobility.

Yes, I sit in my car out of guilt, how can I get involved?