Estimating bicycle and pedestrian volumes based on existing counts--a technical how-to

The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) adopted the Bicycle and Pedestrian Policy directive in 2009

stating that "...the needs of bicyclists and pedestrians shall be included in the planning, design, and operation of

transportation facilities, as a matter of routine..." While well intentioned, this policy directive remained difficult to

fulfill without sufficiently accurate estimates of bicycle and pedestrian volume on CDOT facilities. This research

project enables CDOT to answer the question of whether or not these road users are being adequately

accommodated by establishing Colorado-specific methodologies for estimating bicycle and pedestrian volumes via a

limited sample of existing counts. Because it is not economically realistic to collect continuous count data

throughout the entire CDOT system, there is a need to establish procedures for handling bicycle and pedestrian data

and calculations as well as methods for estimating annual bicycle and pedestrian use from short-term counts. This

work will facilitate improved use of CDOT’s existing investments in collecting continuous and short-term bicycle

and pedestrian count data. It will also enable CDOT to better understand the needs of bicyclists and pedestrians as

well as best allocate limited resources in order to properly meet those needs.