The Open Mobility Foundation (OMF) stewards Mobility Data Specification (MDS), an open source tool initially developed by cities to manage dockless micro-mobility programs including shared e-scooters and bike share, now expanded to include taxis, TNCs, autonomous vehicles, car share, delivery robots, and other shared fleets. MDS is a set of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) creating standardized two-way communications for cities and private companies to share information about operations, allowing cities to collect data and publish regulations that inform efficient traffic management and public policy decisions to enhance safety, equity, and quality of life. More than 1,000 cities and 200 operators across the United States and around the globe use MDS to manage shared mobility services, while OMF continues development and works on new projects like the Curb Data Specification (CDS) for curb and parking management.
Why It Matters: As new mobility options proliferate—from e-scooters to autonomous vehicles to delivery robots—cities need standardized ways to communicate with private operators or risk losing the ability to manage public streets and curbs for the public good. By creating open source specifications that enable two-way data sharing rather than proprietary systems controlled by individual companies, OMF ensures cities retain governance capacity over shared mobility while operators gain clear, consistent standards across jurisdictions. The adoption by over 1,000 cities demonstrates that open infrastructure for mobility data creates network effects benefiting everyone—cities make better policy decisions, operators navigate clearer regulations, and residents experience safer, more equitable transportation systems.
