Strava Metro for Academic Researchers Program
Strava Opens Applications for Third Year of Strava Metro for Academic Researchers Program
Applications Are Open Here (Please Select Academic)
2027 Program
Application Details
Accepted participants will receive:
One-Year access to the Strava Metro platform: Unlock comprehensive, aggregated, and de-identified data to support research initiatives.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration Opportunities: Connect with academic researchers, transportation experts, urban planners, environmental scientists, and public health professionals.
Support from the Strava Metro team: Benefit from online training sessions and dedicated check-in meetings to ensure your project’s success.
Year 3 Key Dates & Next Steps
Year 3 Selection Process
Applications for the Strava Metro for Academic Researchers Program are now open and close on October 23, 2026 at 5 p.m. PT.
All submissions will be evaluated by a Strava committee, which will review, score, and select the final cohort of academic researchers for this year’s program. Accepted applicants will then be notified in November 2026.
Social Impact
About the Program
Announced in September 2024, the Metro for Academic Researchers Program was created to support academic researchers and students studying how people move through cities, regions, and outdoor environments. The program provides access to Strava Metro’s dataset of bicycle and pedestrian activity, along with guidance on data use and interpretation. The program is designed to support applied research with relevance for planners, agencies, land managers, and communities.
About Strava
Strava is the app for active people, a community of over 200 million users in more than 185 countries. It’s more than tracking workouts - it’s where people make progress together, from new habits to new personal bests. No matter your sport or how you track it, Strava’s got you covered. Find your crew, crush your goals, and make every effort count. Start your journey with Strava today.
2027 Cohort of the Metro for Academic Researchers Program
Now entering its third year, the Metro for Academic Researchers Program reflects Strava's continued commitment to using data responsibly in service of the public good. Applications for the 2027 cohort are open now through October 23, 2026, and will bring together a global and interdisciplinary set of research efforts focused on improving safety, accessibility, resilience, and sustainability across active transportation systems.
Through the Metro for Academic Researchers Program, Strava continues to support independent research that strengthens active transportation systems and contributes to healthier, more connected communities worldwide. This work aligns with Strava's mission to motivate people to move and to support initiatives that make human-powered transportation safer, more accessible, and more efficient for everyone.
You can learn more about all the projects selected in Year 2 of the program below:
North America
Norfolk, VA
Leveraging Strava Data to Guide Nature-Based Solutions and Tree Planting for Urban Heat Mitigation
Researchers are examining how heat exposure intersects with everyday cycling and walking. The project supports decisions around tree planting and nature-based solutions that can reduce heat and improve comfort along active transportation corridors.
Maine, ME
Northern Forest Trail Resilience and Adaptation to the Impacts of Localized Storms
A study focused on trail networks in forested regions and response to localized storm events. By comparing activity patterns, the research helps land managers understand trail vulnerability and plan for maintenance, recovery, and long-term resilience.
Albuquerque, NM
Linking Bicyclist Level of Traffic Stress with Cycling Activity for Informed Infrastructure Planning
The research connects observed cycling activity with measures of traffic speed and perceived stress. The work helps reveal where roadway conditions may limit cycling and where targeted infrastructure changes could support safer and more comfortable riding.
Evansville, IN
Planning the Next Ride: A Demand-Based Bikesharing Expansion Study
This project uses observed cycling demand to inform future bikeshare expansion in Evansville. Strava Metro data helps identify areas where ridership potential exists today, supporting local decisions about station placement and system growth.
Europe
West Yorkshire, England,
Mapping Speed Stress: How Traffic Speeds and the Built Environment Shape Cycling Behaviour
By mapping speed stress alongside activity patterns, the project highlights locations where road conditions may discourage cycling and where improvements could reduce risk.
Zilina, Slovakia
The Use of GIS to Support Managerial Decision-Making in Enhancing the Attractiveness of Cycle Routes
The project focuses on identifying which route features attract riders and how GIS and activity data can guide investments across the cycling network.
Oulu, Finland
Northern Sustainable Micro-Mobility: Advancing Year-Round Cycling and Walking Through Data-Driven Insights
In Oulu, researchers are examining how activity patterns change across seasons. The study looks at how infrastructure design, winter conditions, and maintenance practices support consistent use throughout the year.
Asia/Oceania
Brisbane, Australia
Closing the Data Gaps: City-Wide Cycling Insights for Brisbane 2032 Games
This project provides a city-wide view of cycling activity to support long-term planning ahead of the Brisbane 2032. Using Strava Metro to complement existing datasets, the research fills gaps in understanding how people cycle across the network.
Kyoto, Japan
Running in a Changing Climate: Urban Green Space Accessibility and Heat Adaptation Through Strava Data
How does access to green space shape running behaviour as temperatures rise? By linking activity patterns with environmental conditions, the project examines how cities can support heat adaptation while maintaining access to comfortable places to run.
Manila, Philippines
Development of Participatory Spatial Planning and Decision Support System for Active Transportation in the Philippines
This project develops a participatory decision support system for active transportation planning in Manila. By pairing Strava Metro data with local knowledge, the research supports more inclusive spatial planning and better-informed transport decisions
Since making Metro freely available to partner organizations in 2019, Strava has collaborated with over 4,000 city planners, government agencies, and infrastructure decision-makers worldwide. These partnerships have positively impacted nearly 1 billion people by improving the safety, quality, and accessibility of streets and trails. Strava Metro continues to serve as a critical tool for understanding how people move through their environments and identifying ways to enhance active transportation.
To see how the program has supported academic institutions since it began in 2024, visit here
Not an academic but still want to contribute to Strava Metro’s mission of improving the places where we move? Just keep moving! Every public/follower activity you upload adds to the collective picture that helps urban and outdoor recreation planners, governments, and researchers build safer, more active communities.