January 2012 Bike Counts Shows Continued Increase in Bicycle Commuting

Published on January 26, 2012 in Counts and Programs. 5 Comments

 


From Tuesday, January 10 through Thursday, January 12, the Baltimore City Department of Transportation conducted its latest round of bicycle counts. The work counting bikes on the winter days was done by 26 volunteers, all of whom deserve a lot of thanks for braving the elements to ensure that we could track the growth of bicycling in Baltimore.

Bicycles were counted from 7:30 – 9:30 a.m. and from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. at the following locations: Falls Road & Maryland Avenue, Guilford Avenue & Mt. Royal Avenue, Aliceanna Street & Boston Street, Pratt Street & South Street, Keswick Road & Wyman Park Drive, and at bike racks at Penn Station. The locations were selected to gauge ridership along some of the major commuting routes, recognizing that a large proportion of the City’s bicyclists never pass by these points. Listed below are some of the relevant numbers from the counts and comparisons between the numbers from January 2011 and January 2012 at the three locations counted both times.

  • Total bikes counted:  1,466
  • Change from January 2011:  137% increase
  • Bikes parked at Penn Station:  135
  • Location with the biggest increase:  Aliceanna & Boston (185% increase)
  • Largest Single Count:  122 (Pratt & South, Thurs. evening)
  • Percentage of Female Cyclists: 17%
  • Highest Percentage of Female Cyclists:  Pratt & South (23%)
  • Helmet Use:  67%
  • Most Helmet Use:  Keswick & Wyman Park (75%)
  • Least Helmet Use:  Aliceanna & Boston (49%)
  • Use of Lights (during dark time periods):  36%

The fact that more than twice as many bicyclists were counted as last year is an indicator of just how much bicycling is growing in Baltimore. Documenting this change is an essential part of the effort to improve conditions for bicycling in Baltimore. Counts at even more locations will be taking place in May and a lot of volunteers will be needed to help collect data.

Thanks to all of those who helped out and to everyone continuing to commute by bike through the winter.


  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_BWBV3MR6KUROQWWYWAOZLSNDKA Mike

    The lack of light use is a bit depressing.

  • Justin Winokur

    I second Mike’s point but that was more of an issue at the later times. When I was counting in the morning, I saw a lot of light use on my way when it was dark but almost none after. I like to always ride with both a flashing rear and a steady front light, but that is me. At night, I ride with a lot more.

    On a different note, was the bike counter on Fallsway included in these counts? I would be curious how that data looks both on days of counting and not. Of course, I have seen bikers ride _around_ it not knowing what it was but c’est la vie.

  • http://twitter.com/bjtetreault Brian Tetreault

    Don’t read too much into the light use numbers. It was kind of an add-on, if-you-think-about-it request (at least that’s how got it). I forgot to tally light use at Pratt and South during my shift. Besides, for most of the 7:30-9:30 time it was light enough not to need a light.

  • Pixellate

    Does anyone know what the temperature difference was between January 2011 and January 2012? I think it was pretty normal temps that day but I’m not sure.

  • My27

    It was seasonal. Cold, but not terribly cold  I think the mornings were 35 or so, evenings around 42