Possible Alternative Bicycling Metric [was Re: BIKE: Percentage of Austin ...]

[Stuart Werbner]

David, Colly,

While I would agree that commuting to work continues to be a "Holy Grail" of 
bicycle use, I would like to suggest an alternative metric that could be 
used to measure more general bicycle use.

That metric would be simply taking a snapshot in time of bicycles locked to 
bike racks and "non-rack alternatives" in particular locations. [I am NOT 
suggesting counting bikes being ridden since they could be counted multiple 
times in different places.] This would obviously be a very simple/low-cost 
metric to gather, and could be done with the help of minimally trained 
volunteers.

I believe such a metric would provide the following useful information:
1) Long-term trends
2) Changes in bike use patterns within the same week / same day
3) More accurate and publicized counts for large bike use events such as ACL 
Festival, etc...
4) Help determine where more racks and perhaps other more extensive 
infrastructure is needed

Hope this can be of use,

   __o
_`\<,_
(*)/ (*)
~~~~~~~~~
Stuart Werbner
Annuit Coeptis


>From: David Foster <david-k1971-foster>
>To: Stuart Werbner <stuwerb>, lane
>CC: forum
>Subject: Re: BIKE: Percentage of Austin Bike Commuters
>Date: Tue, 30 Nov 2004 12:11:01 -0600
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...
>3) The stats I have looked at do not get at non-commute trips. Yet most 
>vehicle miles of travel are not work-related, and this is bound to be true 
>of bike trips as well, so to look only at trips to work is insufficient and 
>may result in under-counting bike trips (I am absolutely convinced that 
>walk trips are undercounted). I am not sure how to get at a more global 
>figure and would love to hear ideas. The bike community might also want to 
>consider drafting questions for a more in-depth poll; if we can come up 
>with the money, we can make it happen. Any experience in other US cities on 
>in-depth surveys?