The Minnesota Bicycle and Pedestrian Counting Initiative: Methodologies for Non-motorized Traffic Monitoring

The purpose of this project was to develop methodologies for monitoring non-motorized traffic in Minnesota. The project included an inventory of bicycle and pedestrian monitoring programs; development of guidance for manual, field counts; pilot field counts in 43 Minnesota communities; and analyses of automated, continuous-motorized counts from locations in Minneapolis. The analyses showed hourly, daily, and monthly patterns are comparable despite variation in volumes and that adjustment factors can be used to extrapolate short-term counts and estimate annual traffic. The project technical advisory panel made five recommendations: (1) MnDOT should continue and institutionalize coordination of annual statewide manual bicycle and pedestrian counts; (2) MnDOT should improve methods for reporting results of field counts and explore web-based programs for data reporting and analysis; (3) MnDOT should lead efforts to deploy and demonstrate the feasibility of new automated technologies for bicycle and pedestrian counting, focusing on new technologies not presently used in Minnesota; (4) MnDOT should begin integration of non-motorized traffic counts from existing automated, continuous counters in Minneapolis into its new databases for vehicular traffic monitoring data; and (5) MnDOT should work with local governments and explore institutional arrangements for (a) establishing a network of permanent, automated continuous monitoring sites across the state and (b) sharing and deploying new technologies for short-duration monitoring to generate traffic counts that provide a more comprehensive understanding of spatial variation in non-motorized traffic volumes.

• Record URL:
  http://www.lrrb.org/media/reports/201324.pdf
• Record URL:
  http://www.dot.state.mn.us/research/TS/2013/201324.pdf
• 
• Summary URL:
  http://www.dot.state.mn.us/research/TS/2013/201324TS.pdf
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Minnesota, Minneapolis

  Humphrey School of Public Affairs
  301 19th Avenue South
  Minneapolis, MN  United States  55455

  Minnesota Department of Transportation

  Research Services Section, 395 John Ireland Boulevard, Mail Stop 330
  St Paul, MN  United States  55155
• Authors:
  • Lindsey, Greg
  • Hankey, Steve
  • Wang, Xize
  • Chen, Junzhou
• Publication Date: 2013-10

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Figures; Maps; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 69p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bicycle travel; Nonmotorized transportation; Pedestrian counts; Traffic counting; Traffic measurement; Traffic surveillance; Traffic volume
• Geographic Terms: Minnesota
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Planning and Forecasting; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01528076
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: MN/RC 2013-24
• Contract Numbers: (C) 99008 (WO) 8
• Files: TRIS, ATRI, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jun 12 2014 9:17AM