2015 Downtown Bike Count needs volunteers

In May, the Chicago Department of Transportation's Complete Streets program will be conducting its regular Downtown Bike Count. To help with this process, CDOT needs volunteers to assist in downtown Chicago.

This bike count is conducted in the spring, summer and fall and records the number of bicyclists who travel in and out of Chicago’s Central Business District. 

Volunteers will be helping out at 20 locations during peak travel times. 

The CDOT Complete Streets program has set boundaries between Chicago Ave., Canal St., Harrison St. and the Lakefront Trail. The locations are designed so one bicyclist is not counted twice. Volunteers don’t just count bicyclists, though. They also record rider gender and bicycle turning movements. 

All of this information is used to evaluate the utility of new facilities, locate frequently used routes, calculate mode share, perform crash analysis and observe the impact of improved facilities. This information is integral to evaluating the effectiveness of the city’s efforts to improve cycling conditions. 

And most important of all, it can help convey how popular and efficient bicycle transportation is and bring about improved facilities. 

Interested? Contact David Smith, CDOT bikeways planner, at david.smith@tylin.com or Mimi Phillips, CDOT bikeways planning intern, at kphillips@apexconsults.com. No experience is necessary and volunteers will be given data forms and over the phone or in–person training.  

The spring count is scheduled for the following dates and times:

• Tuesday, May 12, 7 a.m. – 9 a.m.
• Tuesday, May 12, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. 
• Saturday, May 16, 12 p.m. – 2 p.m.