Tome Software, Trek Bikes, and Ford Motor Co. have formed the new Bicycle-to-Vehicle (B2V) Executive Advisory Board with 10 other cycle industry founding partners, which has the shared mission to rapidly bring to market innovative solutions that will improve road safety for cyclists.
The new B2V board will use the expertise of cycling and automotive leaders to bridge the gaps between groups by creating cross-industry safety standards.
Less than a year ago, Tome, Trek and Ford began work on proof-of-concept technology solutions designed to reduce the number of bicycle-vehicle collisions. Tome engineers have focused their efforts on mapping and infrastructure, using artificial intelligence (AI) to evaluate and identify safety measures at specific vulnerable roadway locations, and are working with automotive industry engineers and smart city stakeholders, to develop industry standards, such as Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) communications, that work to keep cyclists safe on the road.
The formation of the advisory board marks the first time that leaders from the automotive and cycling industries have united to form a cross-industry coalition. Founding members of the B2V Executive Advisory Board include: Accell North America, Bosch, DOREL Sports, Ford Motor Co., Giant Bicycles Inc. USA, Orbea, Shimano, Specialized, SRAM, Stages Cycling, Tome Software, Trek Bikes, and Quality Bicycle Parts (QBP). The advisory board will tap decades of automotive and cycling leadership to bridge the gaps between groups by creating cross-industry safety standards, and will commence work immediately, taking steps to identify and include additional interested stakeholders. Interested automotive, cycling and smart city collaborators will direct the development of an additional technical working group to collaborate on the R&D of further solutions. Board members will also have direct opportunities to steer co-development, pilot programs, and shared technical exploration.
“Putting the automotive and cycling industries together to work on identifying opportunities for safer roads has grown with support from Ford and Trek,” said Jake Sigal, CEO for Tome Software. “The formation of the B2V Executive Advisory Board is another milestone in our collective effort to create long-term industry standards to keep cyclists safe. I’m honored to work alongside the brightest teams in automotive and cycling and look forward to leveraging the expertise of our board members to continue innovating for safety.”
Jim Holland, vice president of vehicle components and systems engineering at Ford, noted, “Bicycle and automotive safety innovation extends beyond any single company, city or technology. In the City of Tomorrow, a mobility system will see all modes of transportation speaking a common language and working together. Assembling this advisory board of industry leaders and business competitors underscores how important the work to get there is, and highlights the support and organization that will be needed to set the cross-industry standards for years to come.”
Scott Kasin, electronic products manager for Trek Bikes, added, “We are dedicated to actively seeking innovative ideas and working with like-minded partners on easily-accessible solutions that will enhance the safety of cyclists and pedestrians.
