Pedestrian and Bicycle Traffic Counts
One of the greatest challenges facing the bicycle and pedestrian field is the lack of documentation on how many people are cycling and walking and what the demand for cycling and walking would be in various circumstances. Without accurate and consistent figures, it is difficult to measure the positive benefits of bicycle and pedestrian investments, especially when compared to other types of transportation such as the private automobile.
The next Pedestrian and Bicycle Counts will be held on Wednesday, September 28th, 2011. MORPC will organize volunteers to tally pedestrians, bicyclists, mobility aid users, and other non-motor-vehicle traffic at various locations in central Ohio. There will be two count periods, a morning peak-hour count (7:00 – 9:00 a.m.) and an off-peak midday count (11:00 a.m. — 1:00 p.m.). The data collection serves the goals of MORPC’s Complete Streets policy as well as the recommendations of the USDOT’s policy statement on bicycle and pedestrian accommodation.
The National Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation Project (NBPD) was initiated by the Institute of Transportation Engineers Pedestrian and Bicycle Council and proposes the following objectives:
1. Establish a consistent national approach to counting and surveying bicycle and pedestrian traffic.
2. Establish a national database of bicycle and pedestrian count information.
3. Use the count and survey information to begin analysis on the correlations between various factors and bicycle and pedestrian activity.
As the lead organizer of the National Documentation project in central Ohio, the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission is continuing to organize volunteers to conduct bicycle and pedestrian counts. See below for more information on these counts.
PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE COUNT REPORT
On September 22, 2010, for the thirteenth time in six consecutive years, MORPC organized volunteers to tally pedestrians, bicyclists, mobility aid users, and other non-motor-vehicle traffic at various locations in central Ohio. In keeping with NBPD guidelines, counts were conducted to remain consistent with previous data collection efforts, with a morning peak-hour count (7:00 – 9:00 a.m.) and an off-peak midday count (11:00 a.m. — 1:00 p.m.). The data collection serves the goals of MORPC’s Complete Streets policy as well as the recommendations of the USDOT’s policy statement on bicycle and pedestrian accommodation.
The full report from September 2010 can be accessed here.
Pedestrian and Bicycle Count Database
Data from MORPC's previous pedestrian and bicycle counts (2005-2010) can now be downloaded in a single file here (Excel format).
The count location map shows the locations in the central Ohio area where counts have taken place.
Reports from past Pedestrian and Bicycle Counts
2005
2006
2007 May
2007 July
2007 September
2008 May
2008 September
2009 May
2009 September
2010 May
2010 September
For more information contact Joe Fish at (614) 233-4123 or jfish@morpc.org.
