National Academies Press: OpenBook

Guidebook on Pedestrian and Bicycle Volume Data Collection (2014)

Chapter: Appendix B - Manual Pedestrian and Bicyclist Counts: Example Data Collector Instructions

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Page 117
Suggested Citation:"Appendix B - Manual Pedestrian and Bicyclist Counts: Example Data Collector Instructions." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2014. Guidebook on Pedestrian and Bicycle Volume Data Collection. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/22223.
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Page 117
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix B - Manual Pedestrian and Bicyclist Counts: Example Data Collector Instructions." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2014. Guidebook on Pedestrian and Bicycle Volume Data Collection. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/22223.
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Page 118
Page 119
Suggested Citation:"Appendix B - Manual Pedestrian and Bicyclist Counts: Example Data Collector Instructions." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2014. Guidebook on Pedestrian and Bicycle Volume Data Collection. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/22223.
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Page 119
Page 120
Suggested Citation:"Appendix B - Manual Pedestrian and Bicyclist Counts: Example Data Collector Instructions." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2014. Guidebook on Pedestrian and Bicycle Volume Data Collection. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/22223.
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Page 120

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117 A p p e n d i x B This document describes the procedure that you will use to count pedestrians and bicyclists at intersections. Review this document before visiting the field, and refer to it when you have questions in the field. Ideally, you will be trained on the counting methods described below before taking counts. However, it is not necessary to have formal training to follow these procedures. SAFETY FIRST: You will be standing near roadway intersections to take counts. Use caution traveling to the count locations, including crossing roadways near the sites. Follow traffic laws at all times. Maintain a constant awareness of your surroundings, including traffic conditions and social situations, and ensure that data collection does not interfere with your attention to safety. If you feel unsafe, uncomfortable, or threatened, stop data collection and move to a safer location. BRING COUNT MATERIALS: • Data Collection Sheets (8 total sheets; 1 for each 15-minute period) • Pencil or Pen • Clipboard (or something to write on) • Watch (or other timing device that can identify 15-minute periods) • Short letter from the agency sponsoring the counts. This letter should have the name, email, and phone number of someone at the agency so that you can tell people with questions about the counting effort who they can contact (See attached Example Agency Letter). Manual Pedestrian and Bicyclist Counts: Example Data Collector Instructions About These Example Instructions These instructions describe how to count pedestrians and bicyclists at intersections. There are many other ways that pedestrians and bicyclists can be counted at inter- sections, but this method is designed to gather counts in the most accurate, effi- cient, and consistent manner possible. Gender is captured using this method, but age, helmet use, jaywalking, wrong- way riding, and other characteristics are not included so that data collectors can focus on counting accurately. In addition, it is also possible to count pedestrians and bicyclists at locations such as trail, sidewalk, and bicycle lane segments and at building entrances. However, different methods are used to capture counts at these other locations.

118 Guidebook on pedestrian and Bicycle Volume data Collection FILL IN GENERAL INFORMATION ON FIRST SHEET (See top of attached Data Collection Sheet): • Arrive at the count intersection at least 15 minutes before the count period is scheduled to find a location where you can see all of the intersection crossings and to fill in general information. • Record the name of the mainline roadway (roadway with more traffic) and intersecting roadway. • Label the intersection diagram with the names of each roadway. • Add an arrow to indicate which direction is NORTH. • Record your name as the observer. • Record the date and time period of the count. • Estimate the current temperature (°F) and weather (sunny, cloudy, rainy, etc.). • Describe the intersection, including surrounding buildings (e.g., restaurants, single-family houses, and offices) and roadway characteristics (e.g., traffic signals, median islands, and fast traffic). • Record the appropriate 15-minute time period in the upper left corner of each sheet. FOLLOW PEDESTRIAN COUNTING PROCEDURE (See Side 1 of Data Collection Sheet): • Tally each time a pedestrian crosses each leg of the intersection from either direction. • Pedestrians should be counted whenever they cross within the crosswalk or when they cross an intersection leg within 50 feet of the intersection. • Do NOT count pedestrians who do not cross the street (e.g., turn the corner on the sidewalk without crossing the street). • If the pedestrian is female, mark an “O”; if male, mark an “X”; if unknown, mark a “+”. If the pedestrian volume is so high that it is difficult to count by gender, use standard line tally marks. • If the pedestrian is using a wheelchair or other assistive device, underline the “O”, “X”, or “+”. • Count for 2 hours. Use a new sheet for each 15-minute period. • If the intersection is a “T” intersection with only three legs, you should still count four sides of the intersection. Pedestrians using the “sidewalk side” of the intersection should be counted when they travel along the sidewalk for at least half of the width of the intersection. Label the “sidewalk side” on the intersection diagram. • Pedestrians include people in wheelchairs, people using canes and other assistive devices, children being carried by their parents, children in strollers, runners, skateboarders, people walking with a bicycle, etc., but do NOT include people riding bicycles, people in cars, etc. FOLLOW BICYCLIST COUNTING PROCEDURE (See Side 2 of Data Collection Sheet): • Tally each time a bicyclist approaches from each leg of the intersection and arrives at the inter- section (this includes turning left, going straight, or turning right). • Count bicyclists who may be riding on the wrong side of the street (against traffic). • Count bicyclists who ride on the sidewalk (i.e., if a bicyclist on the sidewalk turns right without crossing the street, they should still be counted as turning right). • If the bicyclist is female, mark an “O”; if male, mark an “X”; if unknown, mark a “+.” If the bicycle volume is so high that it is difficult to count by gender, use standard line tally marks. • If the bicyclist is wearing a helmet, underline the “O,” “X,” or “+.” • Count for 2 hours. Enter tally marks in a new row after each 15-minute period. Record totals at the bottom of the sheet after the 2 hours are completed. • Bicyclists include people riding bicycles. They do NOT include people who are walking their bicycles across the intersection.

Manual pedestrian and Bicyclist Counts: example data Collector instructions 119 UNDERSTAND DATA PRIORITY: If you do not feel you (or you and your fellow data collectors at the intersection) can keep up with all observations at a location, collect the data according to the following priority ranking: 1. Count of Pedestrians 2. Count of Bicyclists 3. Gender 4. Helmet Use 5. Pedestrian Crossing Direction 6. Bicyclist Turning Movement GIVE DATA COLLECTION SHEET TO THE COUNT MANAGER: • Give your data sheets to the count manager as soon as possible after completing the counts. • Keep the completed data collection sheet in a safe place until you can turn it in. 1 23 4 2 to 1 O R 1 to 2 3 to 2 OR 2 to 3 4 to 1 OR 1 to 4 4 to 3 O R 3 to 4 Tally each time a pedestrian crosses each leg of the intersection (count all crossings within 50 ft. of the crosswalk). If the pedestrian is female, mark an “O”; if male, mark an “X”; unknown, mark a “+”. Mainline Roadway: _______________________________ Intersecting Roadway: ____________________________ Observer Name (s): ______________________________ Date: _______ Observation Time: (Start)____ (End)_____ Temp. (°F): ______ Sunny, cloudy, rainy, etc.: _________ Description of Specific Observation Location: __________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ Side1: Intersection Pedestrian Count Sheet 15-Minute Period: ________________

120 Guidebook on pedestrian and Bicycle Volume data Collection 1 23 4 A to B OR A to C OR A to D Tally each time a bicyclist arrives at the intersection from each leg (include bicyclists on sidewalks). If the bicyclist is female, mark an “O”; if male, mark an “X”; unknown, mark a “+”. Mainline Roadway: ______________________________ Intersecting Roadway: ____________________________ Observer Name(s): ______________________________ Date: _______ Observation Time: (Start)____ (End)_____ Temp. (°F): ______ Sunny, cloudy, rainy, etc.: _________ Description of Specific Observation Location: __________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ Side 2: Intersection Bicyclist Count Sheet C to B OR C to A OR C to D D to C OR D to B OR D to ABto A OR B to D OR B to C (Right) (Straight) (Left) (Left) (Straight) (Right) (Le ft) (S tra ig ht ) (R ig ht )(Left) (S traight) (R ight) 15-Minute Period: ________________ Example Pedestrian & Bicycle Counting Information Letter for Field Data Collectors [INSERT DATE] The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is collecting pedestrian and bicycle counts in the Milwaukee region as part of research to track how local roadway, trail, and side- walk systems are used by all types of transportation modes. Locations for counts have been selected by Dr. Robert Schneider in coordination with the City of Milwaukee. Student data collectors are being used to count pedestrians and bicyclists in the field. If you have any questions about the count procedures or how the count data will be used by the University, please feel free to contact [INSERT NAME]. You can reach [FIRST NAME] by email at [E-MAIL ADDRESS] or by phone at [PHONE NUMBER]. Thank you.

Next: Appendix C - Count Protocol Used for NCHRP Project 07-19 »
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TRB’s National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 797: Guidebook on Pedestrian and Bicycle Volume Data Collection describes methods and technologies for counting pedestrians and bicyclists, offers guidance on developing a non-motorized count program, gives suggestions on selecting appropriate counting methods and technologies, and provides examples of how organizations have used non-motorized count data to better fulfill their missions.

To review the research methods used to develop the guidebook, refer to NCHRP Web-Only Document 205: Methods and Technologies for Pedestrian and Bicycle Volume Data Collection.

An errata for NCHRP Report 797 and NCHRP Web Only Document 205 has been issued.

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