This workshop will provide an introduction to methods for counting pedestrians and cyclists on multiuse trails and other facilities. The workshop also will illustrate applications of count data, including use of planning ratios and models for estimating pedestrian and cycling traffic. The workshop will review both manual field counts and use of automated counters, including magnetic loop detectors and infrared counters. Strategies for overcoming limitations of methods will be illustrated with examples. Guidance documents from the National Bicycle & Pedestrian Documentation Project, co-sponsored by Alta Planning and Design and the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Pedestrian and Bicycle Council, will be reviewed.

Learning Objectives

• How counts of pedestrians and cyclists can be used to inform different research, policy, and managerial questions.
• To assess the strengths and weaknesses of different methods for counting pedestrians and cyclists.
• How to develop and use simple planning ratios for extrapolating counts of pedestrians and cyclists.
• To understand approaches to modeling pedestrian and bicycle traffic on facilities.
• How to participate in the National Bicycle & Pedestrian Documentation Project.