This document outlines principles for open transport data. It argues that publicly funded transport data should be released openly to developers to create jobs and increase transparency. Five key principles are discussed: 1) public money means public access to raw data; 2) open data should be free to use; 3) public money shouldn't fund competing services; 4) all developers need equal access and documentation; 5) data should be released in its original formats. Examples of both compliant and non-compliant organizations are provided. The overall goal is to organize government to better release and reform existing transport data according to these principles.

1. Open Transport Data
Manifesto
Jonathan Raper
CEO, Placr

2. Manifesto principles
• Assump2on: the open data release process has
to succeed to save £, create jobs, > transparency
• Consequence: developers need early, free and
comprehensive data releases
• Challenge: organise government to deliver,
especially to reform exis2ng data publishers
• These are the principles… prac2ce is harder…

3. 1. Public money
• If there is public money, there must be access
• Access means redistribu2on of exis2ng raw data
• Bodies/services not mee2ng this principle
– Network Rail
– TransportDirect.Info
• Best prac2ce
– Highways Agency

4. 2. Free
• If there is access it must be free at the point of use
• ‘free’ means via open or ‘aSribu2on only’ licence
• Bodies/services not mee2ng this principle
– *Traveline
*Setup charges and hit limits (but private data included)
• Best prac2ce
– TfL Trackernet data for Tube

5. 3. No compe22on
• Public money must not be used to compete with
open data users
• Private system integrators running databases inside
government must not gain unfair advantage
• Bodies/services not mee2ng this principle
– (formerly) MDV and MyTfL app (now withdrawn)
• Best prac2ce
– London Cycle Hire (Barclays now have brand 2e‐in app)

6. 4. Equality of access
• There must be equality of access to the data
• Adequate documenta2on/ metadata needed
to make use of it
• Bodies/services not mee2ng this principle:
– (for now) *TfL Journey Planner API
*Shortly to be replaced by open version
• Best prac2ce
– DataGM

7. 5. Format
• Open data releases should be made in the
formats the data is already held in
• Expensive projects to ‘2dy up’ data waste 2me
• Bodies/services not mee2ng this principle
– iBus project in TfL
• Best prac2ce
– NaPTAN

8. Open data
tube-radar
UK TravelOptions
www.placr.co.uk/gallery
Schools Browser
Crime
browser
London’s open
data experts

9. Contact
hSp://www.placr.co.uk
@MadProf
jonathan.raper@placr.co.uk