State transportation officials are looking for more than just a few good bicycle and pedestrian counters.
Hundreds of volunteers are being sought to participate in the sixth annual survey, scheduled for Oct. 1, 2, and 3 — that’s a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Bike commuters on Lake Washington bike path
This year, 40 cities (the most ever) are participating in the survey that helps the state to better measure demand for future development of bicyclist and pedestrian projects. That’s more than double the 19 cities that participated in the first bike-ped count in 2008.
As in years past, the Cascade Bicycle Club is aiding in the effort to find volunteers.
Volunteers are needed for the morning or evening commutes. The job might entail standing at a street corner and counting cyclists as they whiz past. In Bellevue, the task involved sitting in a cubicle at city hall and counting cyclists and pedestrians as they appeared on a pre-recorded traffic monitor.
If you live in any of the cities below, you jump over to the sign up link or contact state Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator Ian Macek, 360-705-7596, or Ryann Child, 206-861-9890, the Cascade Bicycle Club Volunteer Count Coordinator.
| Bainbridge Island | Kirkland | Renton |
| Bellevue | Lake Forest Park | Richland |
| Bellingham | Lakewood | Seattle |
| Bothell | Longview | Shoreline |
| Bremerton | Lynden | Spokane Valley |
| Burien | Mercer Island | Spokane |
| Ellensburg | Milton | Tacoma |
| Everett | Mountlake Terrace | Tukwila |
| Federal Way | Oak Harbor | University Place |
| Ferndale | Olympia | Vancouver |
| Gig Harbor | Orting | Vashon Island |
| Issaquah | Parkland | Walla Walla |
| Kelso | Puyallup | Wenatchee |
| Kent | Redmond | Yakima |
In 2012, the count revealed increases in the number of cyclists when comparing locations that had been used each year between 2009 and 2012. The “AM” count showed a 36% increase in bicyclists between 2009 and 2012, and the “PM” count revealed a 46% increase over that time span for cyclists.
Last year, the volunteers also noted male and female cyclists. Males comprised 76% of all cyclists that year.
The state plans to continue following the bicycling and walking trends for the foreseeable future, as it aims toward a goal of doubling the number of state residents who ride a bike or walk to work by 2027.
The 2012 report is available online at Washington State Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation Project.
See more information about volunteering for the 2013 Washington state bicycle and pedestrian count.
Recent Comments