Data and standards
Mobility Data Specification (MDS)
Spécification des données de mobilité (MDS)
Mobility Data Specification (MDS) is an open set of APIs maintained by the Open Mobility Foundation for communication between mobility providers and public authorities. It supports digital policies and management of services in the public right-of-way, while data collection and access must be configured for the agency’s actual purpose and obligations.
Understanding the term
MDS is not simply a public trip-history feed. Agencies should choose necessary endpoints, limit access, and apply relevant privacy controls rather than collect every available field.
An implementation should document its version, identifiers, time conventions, geographic accuracy, and supported fields. Test representative exchanges between the actual participating systems, including exceptions and updates. Assign responsibility for correcting discrepancies between published information, legal records, and the street. Collect only information needed for a defined purpose and apply suitable access and retention controls. A successful technical exchange does not by itself prove that the data is current, legally authoritative, or suitable for enforcement.