Dive Brief:

• Coord, a data mobility company backed by Alphabet's Sidewalk Labs, announced today two new urban mobility tools, Curbs API and Tolls API. 
• The Curbs API tool is an open API that offers detailed information on curb "rules" in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York City and Seattle — a combined 200,000 curbs. Based off of a pilot San Francisco Curb Explorer launch, the tool allows developers to map and explore the various "primary" and "permitted" uses of each curb.

• The Tolls API tool is designed to help users calculate the cost of a route by streamlining rate tables for more than 75% of tollways in the continental U.S. The API contains "geometry and normalized pricing information" as well as dynamically-tolled express lanes, and also takes into account the "full assortment of factors" that determine toll costs including vehicle type, occupancy and time of day.

Dive Insight:

When Coord launched in February, it posted an informal mission statement declaring it would become "the central nervous system for a next-generation transportation system anchored around choice, not around car ownership." The purpose of Coord is for public and private sector leaders to utilize the APIs in their own app and service development, which has already been done by companies like Mozio.

The Curbs API and Tolls API add on to Coord's existing library of APIs, including tools for bike-share, ride-hail and parking. As shared mobility markets continue to blend — evidenced by recent announcements of joint ride-share and bike-share ventures — such APIs will be integral in allowing companies to streamline mobility data into efficient applications.

Coord also intends to encourage app developers to reach multiple major cities with a single integration, which is a wise move considering the global implications of the mobility market. For instance, in regards to the Curbs API, Coord CEO Stephen Smyth said in a blog post, "If you wanted to make an app for the city of Los Angeles, you might not care about Santa Monica’s rules, much less San Francisco’s, or New York’s. But we live in a world where software has global reach. Are developers going to build apps that work only in one city? By building an API that lets app developers easily reach multiple major cities with a single integration, we can give curb regulations much wider distribution."

Coord's focus on decreasing car ownership also aligns with many shared-mobility giants across the industry. Recently, 15 mobility companies signed a pledge to "prioritize people over vehicles" and promote the development of shared fleets and services, while denouncing the value of personal car ownership. Assuming this trend maintains momentum from all stakeholders, Coord could eventually become a crucial tool in optimizing these shared services.