The Statewide Bike Counter Network is Growing!

By Blake Trask | Published June 23, 2015

Today, WSDOT, in partnership with Washington Bikes, City of Redmond and King County Parks, installed a permanent bicycle and pedestrian counter on the Sammamish River Trail in Redmond.

Additional progress is moving forward as 13 permanent bike counters are installed or ready to be installed in communities statewide. Today, installation was completed on the Sammamish River Trail in Redmond. This follows successful installs in Bellevue and Bainbridge, and future installations of approximately 8 more counters in cities and towns across the state.

As we’ve reported on before, this initial install of permanent counters follows a now-funded WSDOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety grant proposal led by Washington Bikes, with support from WSDOT and Cascade Bicycle Club. The grant will fund coordination with 10-12 jurisdictions to install a total of approximately 50 permanent bicycle counters statewide. This work will begin in July 2015 (the start of the new fiscal year) and will closely follow the methodology developed by researchers at Portland State University to establish a clear metric of bicycle miles travelled for Washington state.

Why build a statewide network of bike counters?

One of the more significant problems facing active transportation advocates and stakeholders is the dearth of accurate bicycle use data. Knowing how many people are bicycling informs demand for infrastructure, provides feedback on the value of existing facilities, identifies needed improvements, helps compare safety between modes, and bolsters local support for active transportation. Without robust data, well, bicycling really just doesn’t count.

Want a Bike Counter in Your City or Town?

Washington Bikes is closely coordinating with WSDOT, as well as prospective jurisdictions on next steps to implement a statewide permanent bicycle counter network. Interested jurisdictions that want to participate in statewide buildout coordination by Washington Bikes can reach out as we assess opportunities by contacting us. The grant will especially be focused on jurisdictions located on the coast, in the Cascade Range, and on the east side of the state.

Take Action

Safe connections for biking can’t come fast enough. The bike counter network will help provide important data to improve safety and to make data-driven decisions about smart investments. Still, your help is needed today to remind your state legislators that they have a great opportunity to invest in a safer biking and walking network today. Write your legislators right now and ask them to hold the line on biking investments in the state transportation spending package that is currently being negotiated.

 

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One Comment

  1. Michelle
    Posted June 23, 2015 at 3:39 pm | Permalink

    Finally a bike counter that will count me! We ride to the library fairly often.