2013 Session: 425

• Establishing Automated Regional Nonmotorized Transportation Data Collection System to Support Active Transportation Performance Monitoring
  Abstract: This paper describes an effort underway in San Diego to establish a regional non-motorized data collection system in support of long-range planning for bicycle and pedestrian systems. Planners, engineers, and advocates increasingly recognize the need for accurate counts to inform investments in pedestrian and bicycle facilities (FHWA, 2011). There are currently gaps in the literature about methods for determining where non-motorized counting should occur, over what time periods, and how to use automated counts to develop adjustment factors. This paper describes one region’s efforts to link performance monitoring to regional transportation planning by establishing a network of automated bicycle and pedestrian count stations along the regional bicycle network, which was recently adopted in the 2050 Regional Transportation Plan. The count station siting methodology employed a multi-step process where the regional bicycle network was segmented, and then stratified sampling employed to select a subset of bicycle network segments where counters would be installed. The siting methodology first established a comprehensive network of count stations representing ultimate coverage of the regional bicycle network (170 count stations). Then a subset of representative locations was selected for phase one count program implementation (35 counts stations). To date, count equipment has been installed at 17 locations and the remainder will be installed by September 2012. When fully implemented, this counting program will be one of the most comprehensive automated data collection systems of any in the nation. The paper focuses on siting methodologies, validation of automated counts, and using counts for non-motorized performance monitoring.
  Authors: Ryan, Sherry
  Authors: Ryan, Sherry
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Data and Information Technology; Pedestrians and Bicyclists
  Session: 425
  Paper Number: 13-0351
• Monitoring Urban Bicycle Volumes Using Inductive Loops at Signalized Intersections
  Abstract: As a sustainable transport mode, cycling is getting more attention from policy makers and transport planners throughout the world. However, in the Netherlands, and elsewhere, system wide bicycle volume data are lacking. Municipalities in the Netherlands rely on national travel survey data, combined with visual counts. The lack of data on bicycle volumes hampers municipalities to plan and improve bicycle facilities. In the Netherlands, inductive loops for both vehicles and bicycles are present at signalized intersections. In this paper, we use data from these loops in the town of Enschede, to examine the actual bicycle volumes. We show that inductive loops can be used when we compare their counts with visual counts at a few signalized intersections. At low to medium bicycle volumes (up to 200 cyclists passing per hour), the detections by the inductive loops comply well with the actual number of cyclists. At higher volumes, the probability increases that two (or more) cyclists are detected as one. This happens because of the reduction of time headways, making two successive cyclists undistinguishable. By assuming a random arrival process within a certain arrival time window, we can explain the rate of underestimation at high volumes, and correct for this. The results of this study can be applied by practitioners to convert inductive loop data into bicycle volumes and will be a valuable source of data for road authorities in medium-sized cities in the Netherlands.
  Authors: Veenstra, Sander; Thomas, Tom; Geurs, Karst T.
  Authors: Veenstra, Sander; Thomas, Tom; Geurs, Karst T.
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Data and Information Technology; Pedestrians and Bicyclists
  Session: 425
  Paper Number: 13-3901
• Adjustment Factors for Estimating Miles Traveled by Nonmotorized Traffic
  Abstract: Traffic counts are an important piece of information used by transportation planners; however, while count programs are common for motor vehicles most efforts at counting non-motorized traffic – cyclists and pedestrians – are minimal. Long-term, continuous counts of non-motorized traffic can be used to estimate month of year and day of week adjustment factors that can be used to scale short-duration counts to estimates of annual average daily traffic. Here we present results from continuous counts of non-motorized traffic at 6 locations on off-street trails in Minneapolis, MN using two types of automated counters (active infrared and inductive loop detectors). We found that traffic volumes varied significantly by location, but the month of year and day of week patterns were mostly consistent across locations and mode (i.e., cycling, walking, or mixed mode). We give examples of how this information could be used to extrapolate short-duration counts to estimates of annual average daily traffic as well as Bicycle Miles Traveled (BMT) and Pedestrian Miles Traveled (PMT) for defined lengths of off-street trails. More research is needed to determine if non-motorized traffic patterns (and subsequently our adjustment factors) for off-street trails are comparable to those for on-street non-motorized travel or for other geographic areas.
  Authors: Lindsey, Greg; Chen, Junzhou; Hankey, Steve
  Authors: Lindsey, Greg; Chen, Junzhou; Hankey, Steve
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Data and Information Technology; Pedestrians and Bicyclists
  Session: 425
  Paper Number: 13-4082
• Characterizing Walk Trips in Communities by Using Data from 2009 National Household Travel Survey, American Community Survey, and Other Sources
  Abstract: Non-motorized travel (i.e. walking and bicycling) are of increasing interest to the transportation profession, especially in context with energy consumption, reducing vehicular congestion, urban development patterns, and promotion of healthier life styles. This research project aimed to identify factors impacting the amount of travel for both walk and bike trips at the Census block group or tract level, using several public and private data sources. The key survey of travel behavior is the 2009 National Household Travel Survey (NHTS) which had over 87,000 walk trips for persons 16 and over, and over 6000 bike trips for persons 16 and over. The NHTS, in conjunction with the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, street density measures using Census Bureau TIGER, WalkScore®, Nielsen Claritas employment estimates, and several other sources were used for this study. Stepwise Logistic Regression modeling techniques as well as Discriminant Analysis were applied using the integrated data set. While the models performed reasonably well for walk trips, travel by bike was abandoned due to sparseness of data. This paper discusses data sources utilized and modeling processes conducted under this study. It also presents a summary of findings and addresses data challenges and lesson-learned from this research effort.
  Authors: Hwang, Ho-Ling; Reuscher, Timothy; Wilson, Daniel W.; Murakami, Elaine
  Authors: Hwang, Ho-Ling; Reuscher, Timothy; Wilson, Daniel W.; Murakami, Elaine
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Data and Information Technology; Pedestrians and Bicyclists
  Session: 425
  Paper Number: 13-4509
• Monitoring Urban Bicycle Volumes Using Inductive Loops at Signalized Intersections
  Authors: Veenstra, Sander
  Authors: Veenstra, Sander
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation; Poster
  Subject: Data and Information Technology; Pedestrians and Bicyclists
  Session: 425
  Paper Number: 13-3901
• Adjustment Factors for Estimating Miles Traveled by Nonmotorized Traffic
  Authors: Lindsey, Greg
  Authors: Lindsey, Greg
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation; Poster
  Subject: Data and Information Technology; Pedestrians and Bicyclists
  Session: 425
  Paper Number: 13-4082
• Adjustment Factors for Estimating Miles Traveled by Nonmotorized Traffic
  Authors: Hankey, Steve
  Authors: Hankey, Steve
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation; Poster
  Subject: Data and Information Technology; Pedestrians and Bicyclists
  Session: 425
  Paper Number: 13-4082