6 : 1
The fear gap
Six people want to cycle for every one who actually does. Fear of traffic — not lack of interest — is the #1 barrier to urban cycling.
Urban cycling, made safer
Cycle safe.
Cycle safe.
Everywhere.
The only navigation app that routes you along the safest streets, not the fastest — using 79+ road-risk factors. Built for cyclists who care about getting home, not getting there first.
Joined by 900+ early riders · Endorsed by the World Bank & EIT Urban Mobility
The problem
Cycling is dangerous — but it doesn't have to be.
For every active cyclist, six people want to ride but feel it's too risky. Default navigation makes it worse — sending you down the fastest roads, not the safest.
5% vs 24%
The safety gap
Cyclist deaths in Europe dropped just 5% over a decade, while overall road deaths fell 24%. The cycling gap is widening.
#1 in EU
Where it hurts most
Romania has the highest cyclist fatality rate in the European Union. We're starting where it matters most.
Validated by data
The same destination.
The same destination.
Two very different rides.
We ran the numbers on 10,149 routes between random points in Romanian urban areas, comparing our safety routing to default cycling directions.
The result: routes generated by Defensive Pedal are
110%
safer
Measured as cumulative risk along each route, using 79+ road-risk factors per segment.
How it works
Defensive Pedal finds you the safest route in 3 steps.
01
Risk mapping
We score every road segment using 79+ factors — lane width, speed limit, surface quality, intersection complexity, signalling, dooring zones, and more.
02
Risk routing
When you set a destination, our algorithm analyses every possible route and finds the one with the lowest cumulative risk — not just the shortest.
03
Live hazard alerts
As you ride, the app warns you about upcoming hazards — potholes, hostile merges, dangerous intersections — so you're ready, not surprised.
What makes us different
The only navigation app built for cyclist safety.
Other apps treat cycling as a slower version of driving. We treat it as its own problem — with its own data, its own risks, and its own solution.
Feature
Google Maps
Strava
Komoot
Defensive Pedal
Optimises for safety, not speed
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79+ road-risk factors per segment
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Live hazard alerts while riding
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Adjustable risk tolerance
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Works in every city worldwide
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Features
Everything you need to ride with confidence.
Anywhere on Earth
Built on OpenStreetMap data, Defensive Pedal works in every city in the world. Coverage and data quality vary — but the routing engine is global from day one.
Customise your caution
Choose how strongly to prioritise safety over speed. Want the absolute safest route? Or a balance? Set it once, change it anytime.
Made for your bike
E-bike or manual? Hill-friendly or flat-only? Scenic detours or pure utility? Tell the app once and every route adapts to you.
Community hazard reports
Spotted a pothole, a sketchy intersection, or a glass-strewn lane? Tap to report. Other riders see it instantly.
Privacy by design
Analytics are opt-in and GDPR-compliant. Your trips are yours. We never sell personal data — period.
Free to start
Core safety routing is completely free — every ride, every day. Premium tiers unlock advanced features when you're ready.
From the people who tested it
Real cyclists. Real cities. Real confidence.
I was amazed I could actually feel safe while cycling in Bucharest.
Defensive Pedal is a very useful app for urban cyclists who care about safety, not just speed. I like that it focuses on finding safer bike routes and takes real road-risk factors into account, instead of simply sending you on the fastest path. The hazard alerts, weather and air-quality awareness, and cyclist-focused routing make it feel genuinely practical for daily commuting and city rides. The app has a clear purpose and solves a real problem for people who want to cycle with more confidence.
Endorsed by
- World Bank
- EIT Urban Mobility
- Climaccelerator
- UrbanizeHub
Featured in
- Capital
- evz.ro
- StartupCafe
- GoodMarket
Built by cyclists. Refined by 1,300+ of them.
We ride. We listen. We iterate.
Defensive Pedal was founded by Victor Rotariu — a lifelong cyclist who shipped Romania's largest chatbot — and Oana Leta, former U.K. Country Manager for iRobot with deep urban-policy experience.
Our safety model has been refined with feedback from over 1,300 contributors: cyclists who tested the algorithm at events, answered our surveys, and shaped what the app gets right.
1,300+contributors
900+early signups
200+hands-on testers
10,149routes analysed
Questions
Quick answers, no fine print.
Is Defensive Pedal really free?
Yes. Core safety routing is completely free — every ride, every day. Optional premium tiers will unlock advanced features like personalised risk profiles and route analytics, but the safety-first navigation that makes us different is free for everyone.
Will it drain my phone battery?
Defensive Pedal is optimised to be lightweight. Battery usage is comparable to other GPS navigation apps. For longer rides we recommend a power bank or handlebar charger — same as you would for any turn-by-turn app.
Does it work in my city?
Yes — Defensive Pedal works in every city in the world because we build on OpenStreetMap data. That said, the granularity of safety scoring depends on local data quality. Major European cities have the strongest coverage today, and we improve everywhere as our community grows.
Is there an iPhone version?
Not yet — we're Android-first. iOS is on the roadmap. Join the waitlist below and we'll email you the moment it launches.
Thanks — you're on the list. 🚴
How accurate are the safety scores?
Our safety model uses 79+ road-risk factors per segment, drawing on official European road safety research, OpenStreetMap infrastructure data, and community-reported hazards. The model has been refined with input from 1,300+ contributors and tested across 10,149 routes in Romanian cities — showing routes 110% safer than default routing.
What data does the app collect?
Privacy by design. We collect only what's needed to route you safely. All analytics are opt-in, GDPR-compliant, and aggregated/anonymised for any institutional data sharing. We never sell personal data.
Ready for your safest ride yet?
Install free on Google Play. No subscription. No card. Just safer routes.
GET IT ON Google PlayAndroid · Free · 79+ safety factors · 110% safer routes