Guidebook on Pedestrian and Bicycle Volume Data Collection (2014) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
Pages 21-56
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 21... ...
21 C H A P T E R 3 This chapter describes how to plan and implement a pedestrian and bicycle counting program and provides guidance on the various steps of the counting process, including technical and logistical considerations. This guidance is drawn from a comprehensive literature review, surveys of and interviews with transportation agencies that conduct pedestrian or bicycle counts, and field testing of counting devices.
|
From page 22... ...
22 Guidebook on Pedestrian and Bicycle Volume Data Collection 3.2 Planning the Count Program Planning is an important first step in developing an efficient and useful pedestrian and bicycle counting program. Although it is possible to relatively quickly collect manual counts or to purchase and install automated counting technologies, this course of action may not produce useful, long-term results.
|
From page 23... ...
Data Collection Planning and Implementation 23 Considering Multiple Data Users A transportation agency wants to document how pedestrian volumes change after sidewalks are added along 10 roadways. Initially, it plans to use staff to conduct 4-hour weekday afternoon counts at each location, both 1 week before and 3 weeks after sidewalks are installed.
|
From page 24... ...
24 Guidebook on Pedestrian and Bicycle Volume Data Collection Source: Arlington County, VA (2012)
|
From page 25... ...
Data Collection Planning and Implementation 25 3.2.2 Identifying Data Collection Resources Available resources determine the scale of an organization's pedestrian and bicycle counting program. According to the practitioner survey conducted during the development of this guidebook, the most common barriers to collecting more pedestrian and bicycle data were • Lack of staff time and volunteer interest, and • Funding limitations or cutbacks.
|
From page 26... ...
26 Guidebook on Pedestrian and Bicycle Volume Data Collection In some cases it may be appropriate to use volunteers to assist in installing, moving, and downloading data from automated counting devices. However, given the complexities associated with some technologies, this approach requires identifying volunteers with some degree of technical capacity, and it may be best suited for students at a local college or university.
|
From page 27... ...
Data Collection Planning and Implementation 27 Select General Geographic Locations Resource limitations often prevent counting at every desired location, so particular locations must be chosen based on the primary purposes of the data collection program. Four approaches, described in more detail below, have been used for determining count locations: • Random locations, • Representative locations, • Targeted locations, and • Control locations.
|
From page 28... ...
28 Guidebook on Pedestrian and Bicycle Volume Data Collection crashes (per pedestrian crossing, per trail user, per bicyclist, etc.)
|
From page 29... ...
Data Collection Planning and Implementation 29 Recent research has provided guidance on applying factor groups for pedestrian and bicycle counting programs. Several studies have described how to define specific factor groups.
|
From page 30... ...
30 Guidebook on Pedestrian and Bicycle Volume Data Collection The relative values of these indices are used to classify count patterns into utilitarian (low WWI and high AMI) , mixed-utilitarian (moderately-low WWI and moderately-high AMI)
|
From page 31... ...
Data Collection Planning and Implementation 31 (how volumes change during the hours of a particular day) , it may only be necessary to collect counts for a few weeks.
|
From page 32... ...
32 Guidebook on Pedestrian and Bicycle Volume Data Collection percentage of the total annual volume) rather than using a two-step process to first estimate the weekly volume from a day-of-week factor and then estimate the annual volume from a monthof-year factor (Hankey, Lindsey, and Marshall 2014; Nosal, Miranda-Moreno, and Krstulic 2014)
|
From page 33... ...
Data Collection Planning and Implementation 33 Count Frequency Count frequency is defined as how often counts are collected at a given site. For permanently installed automated counters, the count frequency is continuous.
|
From page 34... ...
34 Guidebook on Pedestrian and Bicycle Volume Data Collection Identifying Sites Appropriate for the Counting Method Specific counting technologies require particular site characteristics. For example, passive infrared sensors should be directed across a sidewalk or multi-use trail facility into a wall or other object.
|
From page 35... ...
Data Collection Planning and Implementation 35 crosswalk) , it is registered as a count.
|
From page 36... ...
Characterisc Passive Infrared Acve Infrared Pneumac Tubes Inducve Loops Piezoelectric Sensor Passive IR + Inducve Loops Radio Beam (One Frequency) Radio Beam (High/Low Frequency)
|
From page 37... ...
Table 3-2. Comparison of common pedestrian and bicycle counting methods: volume, width, and duration capabilities.
|
From page 38... ...
Table 3-3. Comparison of common pedestrian and bicycle counting methods: resources.
|
From page 39... ...
Data Collection Planning and Implementation 39 inductive loops have specific width requirements, they may not cover the entire facility (in the case of a multi-use trail) or they may cover a greater width than the facility (in the case of a bicycle lane)
|
From page 40... ...
40 Guidebook on Pedestrian and Bicycle Volume Data Collection • Mobility. Moving counting equipment to different sites makes it possible to capture a greater spatial variety of data with a single device.
|
From page 41... ...
Data Collection Planning and Implementation 41 reduce the amount of memory needed to store counts each day. (This is not possible when a product can only record counts in timestamp format.)
|
From page 42... ...
42 Guidebook on Pedestrian and Bicycle Volume Data Collection than one count. Known sources of inaccuracy can be corrected, provided that the device errors are consistent.
|
From page 43... ...
Data Collection Planning and Implementation 43 3.3.1 Obtaining Permissions Before installing counting devices at a site, check with local agencies, utilities, and other organizations responsible for managing poles, signs, pavement, walls, or other features at the site. In many cases, permission is required.
|
From page 44... ...
44 Guidebook on Pedestrian and Bicycle Volume Data Collection to obtain permission from more than one agency at a single location. In most cases, equipment is installed on public property, but permission from the property owner(s)
|
From page 45... ...
Data Collection Planning and Implementation 45 • Performance factors. What specific site or environmental conditions must be avoided so that the device counts correctly?
|
From page 46... ...
46 Guidebook on Pedestrian and Bicycle Volume Data Collection • Calibration support. Will a vendor representative be on site to help calibrate the counting device when it is first installed?
|
From page 47... ...
Data Collection Planning and Implementation 47 adjust all of the equipment. The following is a checklist of things to consider when visiting automated counters in the field (not all items are applicable to all counting products)
|
From page 48... ...
48 Guidebook on Pedestrian and Bicycle Volume Data Collection analysis. However, collecting more characteristics and behavioral data increases the complexity of the data collection effort and can diminish counting accuracy, especially in locations with high pedestrian and bicycle volumes.
|
From page 49... ...
Data Collection Planning and Implementation 49 The following steps are recommended upon arriving at the site on the installation day: INSTALLATION CHECKLIST: ARRIVAL AT THE SITE ON THE INSTALLATION DAY Review the site with the vendor and other pares to verify there are no potenal problems with the site (e.g., interference from ulity wires, evidence of planned construcon, frequent obstrucons [e.g., delivery trucks] in the installaon area)
|
From page 50... ...
50 Guidebook on Pedestrian and Bicycle Volume Data Collection Once the counter has been installed, it is important to follow up periodically to ensure that the counter is still working appropriately. This activity includes the following actions: INSTALLATION CHECKLIST: FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITIES Create a site descripon sheet or diagram containing the notes and photos from the installaon day.
|
From page 51... ...
Data Collection Planning and Implementation 51 Another check should be conducted several days after the installation is complete. It should follow the same procedure as the initial check, comparing manual to automated counts.
|
From page 52... ...
52 Guidebook on Pedestrian and Bicycle Volume Data Collection the device may be adjusted. Vendors can and should provide feedback to customers on how to achieve accurate results.
|
From page 53... ...
Data Collection Planning and Implementation 53 Some vendors provide custom software that imports the output files from their products into a spreadsheet. This approach can help avoid mistakes from manually copying counts between data files.
|
From page 54... ...
54 Guidebook on Pedestrian and Bicycle Volume Data Collection • Incorrect initial installation (e.g., sensor is pointed at a doorway or other background that creates false counts at certain times; sensor is at a location where people gather at particular times; equipment is not sealed correctly, resulting in water damage, tampering, or rapid deterioration)
|
From page 55... ...
Data Collection Planning and Implementation 55 a portion of motor vehicles that used the roadway, given that their engines and passengers are sources of heat. If the erroneous counts are not removed from the dataset, erroneous conclusions would result about the level of pedestrian activity at this location.
|
From page 56... ...
56 Guidebook on Pedestrian and Bicycle Volume Data Collection Clean pedestrian and bicycle counts can be integrated with automobile traffic count databases. Approximately 30% of the respondents to the practitioner survey conducted as part of the research behind this guidebook integrated non-motorized count data into motorized count databases (or developed a parallel and easily linked database)
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.