SimRa vs Ping Alive

Comparable to other major cities worldwide, Berlin aims to reduce traffic emissions. Foremost mechanism for this is to increase the share of bicycle traffic. However, polls show that a lack of safety and fear of accidents keeps people from using their bikes more frequently. Furthermore, it also quite hard from a city planning perspective to get a good overview of location, time, frequency, and kind of hazards in bicycle traffic since official accident statistics only cover crashes but do not provide information on near crashes. In this project, we collect – with a strong focus on data protection and privacy – data on such near crashes to identify when and where bicyclists are especially at risk. We also aim to identify the main routes of bicycle traffic in Berlin. To obtain such data, we have developed the SimRa app that uses GPS information to track routes of bicyclists and the built-in acceleration sensors to pre-categorize near crashes. After their trip, users are asked to annotate and upload the collected data in a fully anonymous way. The collected data offers detailed insights into bicycle traffic in Berlin (and other cities) and hazardous situations to public administrators and other interested entities so that the number of near crashes (and hence also crashes) can be reduced. The data can also be used to optimize traffic flows to make bicycle traffic more attractive. For the evaluation of data, we plan to cooperate with interdisciplinary partners such as city planning, interested citizens, but also the Berlin Senate Department for the Environment, Transport and Climate Protection.

Ping Alive – Your Daily Sign of Life Living alone? Ping Alive is a simple, reliable check-in app that keeps you connected to the people who care about you. Open the app once a day – that's all it takes. If you don't check in, your trusted contacts are automatically notified so someone can make sure you're okay. How It Works Ping Alive reminds you once a day to send your sign of life. You choose the time. Just open the app and confirm – done. If your check-in is missed, the app waits a grace period, then alerts your emergency contacts via push notification. One important difference from other safety apps: both you and your emergency contacts need to have Ping Alive installed. This is intentional. Push notifications are significantly more reliable than emails, which get lost in spam folders or go unread for days. When it matters most, you need an alert that actually gets through. No complicated setup, no confusing menus. Built for Simplicity Ping Alive is designed for people who want peace of mind, not another complicated app. Large text, clear buttons, helpful guidance at every step. Whether you're 25 or 85, the app just works. • One daily check-in – open the app, tap confirm • Adjustable reminder time – you decide when • Automatic alerts – your contacts are notified if you don't respond • Status overview – your contacts can see at a glance that you're okay • Comprehensive in-app help – step-by-step guidance included Who Is Ping Alive For? • Seniors and elderly people living independently • Anyone living alone who wants an extra layer of safety • Pet owners – if something happens to you, someone needs to care for your pet • Adult children who worry about aging parents • People recovering from illness or surgery Privacy First. Made in Europe. Ping Alive is built and operated in the European Union. Your data stays in Europe, protected by strict EU privacy laws (GDPR). There is no advertising. No tracking. No cookies. No data analysis. No third-party sharing. You can delete your entire account and all personal data at any time – permanently. Ping Alive has been in active development for more than two years – built by real people, for real people. The use case is too important and too sensitive to be treated as an experiment. This is not a weekend project or a vibe-coded prototype. Every feature, every decision has been made with care, because someone's safety depends on it. We believe safety apps should protect you, not exploit you. That's why Ping Alive collects only what's strictly necessary: your contact information and your check-in status. Nothing more. Simple Pricing, No Tricks Ping Alive is free to download and includes a 14-day free trial so you can try everything without commitment. After that, the daily check-in service requires a subscription at approximately €2/month (exact price may vary slightly by region due to local taxes). The subscription renews monthly and can be cancelled at any time – no lock-in, no hidden fees. Your emergency contacts never need a subscription. The app is completely free for anyone receiving alerts. Only the person checking in needs an active plan. A Note About Inactive Accounts To keep the alert network reliable, accounts that haven't opened the app for over a month are automatically removed. Inactive users can't respond to alerts, so this protects the people counting on them. Your peace of mind starts with one tap a day. Download Ping Alive now and let the people who care about you rest easy. support@ping-alive.app