Guideline

Monitoring Guidance in a Nutshell: For Active Planners

Jacek Oskarbski, Konrad Biszko, Daniel Kaszubowski · 2026

Summary

Monitoring Guidance in a Nutshell is a practical, step-by-step guide developed by Gdańsk University of Technology within the BATS project to help municipalities plan and implement monitoring for year-round active mobility interventions. It provides an accessible entry point to the more comprehensive BATS Monitoring Guidance, focusing on how city teams can develop a feasible monitoring roadmap before implementation begins. The guide presents a six-step process covering intervention objectives, the selection of 1–2 core indicators and 2–4 supporting indicators, data availability assessments, data collection arrangements, responsibilities, implementation risks and the preparation of a monitoring roadmap. It distinguishes between impact evaluation, which measures observable changes, and process evaluation, which examines implementation challenges, enabling factors and lessons learned. Particular attention is given to weather, lighting and seasonal conditions, which can significantly influence walking and cycling behaviour and complicate before-and-after comparisons. The guide explains how to account for these factors when selecting indicators, collecting data and interpreting results. It also introduces the BATS Indicator Selection Tool, supporting appendices and Monitoring Guidance Canvases for defining success criteria, mapping data infrastructure and organising monitoring responsibilities. A Minimum Viable Monitoring approach, guidance on communicating results and a final readiness checklist help cities establish credible evaluation practices even with limited resources. The publication is especially relevant for local authorities seeking to demonstrate the effectiveness of active mobility measures, improve implementation through evidence and use monitoring results to support future planning and investment decisions.

Topics

Data & Monitoring Policy, Strategy & Governance

Target audience

Politicians Policy makers

Mode

Walking Cycling Wheeling

Conditions

Year-round Winter Cold Dark

Countries