Help with bicycle & pedestrian counts across Missouri in mid-September 2008

The national movement to get better counts & data about bicycling & walking is gaining momentum. They are doing an annual "bicycle & pedestrian count week" nationally now.

Website with all the details about the nationally coordinated effort to collect bicycle and pedestrian usage data in September of each year, is here.

The idea is to use uniform dates & methods so that there can be uniform data collected--to show how bicycling & walking is changing over time.

A coalition of groups including MoBikeFed is planning to definitely do this in Kansas City this year--even if it is just a few locations. A "small start" if you will. Then we can expand on that for future years.

Columbia, MO, will be doing a thorough data collection in September as part of the Nonmotorized Pilot Project.

The national dates for the count are Tues, Wed, or Thurs Sept 9, 10, or 11th, and then the preceding or following Saturday.

Because of interference from the Tour of Missouri that week, in Kansas City we are planning to do the counts one week later.

There are two parts--the counts and the survey. The survey can be done a week (or even two) earlier or later than the counts.

Both could be done with as few a three or four volunteers in a city.

Getting better data on bicycling and walking, and usage counts, is one of the main goals in MoBikeFed's Vision for improving walking & bicycling in Missouri. So MoBikeFed will support this as much as we can (need help finding volunteers in your area?) and encourages you to do so as well.

More info from Alta Planning, which is spearheading this effort, below:

> For those of you interested in contributing to a national bicycle and
> pedestrian count and survey effort, the next counts for National Bicycle
> and Pedestrian Documentation Project are scheduled for September 2008.
>
> The methodology developed here is being used in all all four Non-motorized
> Transportation Pilot Projects (Marin, Minneapolis, Columbia, Sheboygan),
> under the approval/review of the FHWA/Volpe National Transportation
> Systems
> Center. It is also being used as part of the 2.5 year Caltrans research
> project in San Diego (Seamless Travel), and by agencies nationwide.
>
> The basic assumptions of the methodology are that, in order to estimate
> existing and future bicycle and pedestrian demand and activity, agencies
> nationwide need to start conducting counts and surveys in a consistent
> manner similar to those being used by ITE and other groups for vehicle
> models.
>
> You may download count instructions, tally sheets and other forms at
> Alta's
> website:
> http://www.altaplanning.com/presentations+_+studies.aspx
>
>
> Lauren
>
> --------------------------
> Lauren Ledbetter, Associate
> laurenledbetter [at] altaplanning.com
> Alta Planning + Design
> 2560 9th St, Suite 212
> Berkeley, CA 94710
> ph: (510) 540-5008
> fax: (510) 540-5039
>
> Specializing in progressive transportation planning, design, and
> implementation.