Spring into Effective Planning with SEMCOG’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Counts Map

This article was a collaboration of SEMCOG planners Chade Saghir, Data Analysis, and Brian Pawlik, Modeling and Mobility. It is reflective of how Brian and Chade work together on a regular basis to integrate count data and various other considerations to improve experiences for all users of the transportation system in Southeast Michigan.

Groundhog Day has come and gone, and it appears that Punxsutawney Phil was correct: winter is here to stay. We have been blasted by multi-day ice- and snowstorms and the cold temperatures appear to be staying put. Yet, depending on where you are within the region, you might see people defying the weatherman’s advice and braving the elements. Here’s the report from some SEMCOG staff:

Chade Saghir, Data Analysis: As I sit here looking out my window in my home office in Dearborn, the temperature outside is 31 degrees. I observe one bundled up bicyclist navigating the snow and iced street.

Brian Pawlik, Modeling and Mobility: Here on Grosse Ile, I see fewer people using the linear 7.5-mile bike path system, but plenty are walking on neighborhood sidewalks. Some walk in groups, while others bring four-legged friends. I also see a few people biking with well-equipped fat tires or e-bikes.

Chris Williams, Planning and Programming: On Ann Arbor-Saline Road over the I-94 bridge, people had to walk over mounds of uneven snow that had not yet been cleared from the last major snow event. One person walked slowly over the dirt-covered snow, while another person gave up and just walked counter-flow in the roadway. I have also seen people running along designated multi-use paths like they normally would.

Jenya Abramovich, Modeling and Mobility: I often have the Dequindre Cut and the Detroit RiverWalk to myself for early morning walks, which seem most-used for recreation. However, plenty of people still need to commute by foot, bike, or wheelchair, regardless of weather conditions. Where sidewalks and bike lanes have not been plowed, I see people walking and rolling in the street. This creates an unsafe situation for all road users.

Jon Clark, Communications: On days when the morning temperature dips below 20 degrees, there are definitely fewer people walking the sidewalks of Ferndale. However, as the weather warms up throughout the day (and if we’re lucky enough to get sunshine), the sidewalks usually fill with a steady stream of people walking, running, and rolling. It wouldn’t be Ferndale if I didn’t observe dozens of people walking their dogs each day, but the temperature definitely affects travel patterns. On the particularly cold days, it seems like the backyard will have to suffice!

Alex Bourgeau, Modeling and Mobility: At the end of my block here in Grosse Pointe Park sits a popular deli and bike shop with free air and quick repairs. My desk faces the street where I see people walking and riding to and from the shop and deli all day, every day, in all types of weather. Whether it’s sunny and 80 degrees or single digit and icy, they brave the elements. People of all ages and abilities, whether by choice or because they have no other option, are choosing to use these modes of travel.

Data reflects decisions

The point of these anecdotes is to demonstrate that walking and biking trips – and their apparent desirability – are very dependent on variables such as weather, locale, and time of day/week/year. Some days you might see many people while on other days, maybe none. Route choices can and do change based on changes to infrastructure availability.

While asking people about their mobility decisions is a key part of planning, there is no substitute for actual use of the transportation system. Fortunately, there are various tools that enable us to count the number of automobiles, bicycles, or pedestrians in different places at different times.

Photo courtesy of miovision.com

SEMCOG has conducted 233 bicycle and pedestrian count studies over the past six years, accounting for trips by thousands of bicyclists and pedestrians throughout the region. While each study is unique, we see higher bicycle usage on weekends and during the summer months, especially on regional trail systems. Pedestrian trips are more consistent in urban areas like downtowns with multiple points of interest close together, but more volatile in outlying areas. Both pedestrian and bicyclist trips decrease dramatically during rain events.

SEMCOG has packaged the results of these studies into one interactive map on our website. We encourage you to check it out! You may find data from within your own community, or there may have been studies in communities with similar attributes.

You can query the map using various dropdown menus, or you can navigate the map to view studies. You can see grand totals for studies, pedestrians, and bicyclists with a specific county or community. You can also look for counts taken at road intersections or on trails. You can even query by time of day/day of week or count duration. If you want to know more about a specific study, just click on it and download detailed information in pdf or excel file formats.

Example study shown below:

Background

These studies help SEMCOG with both regional planning and local assistance. Examples of technical assistance include enhanced crosswalk justification, TAP project competitiveness, mode share of e-scooters, and before-and-after studies for upcoming projects. Some studies are focused on facilities with more recreation trips, while other count areas are more commute-based.

We plan to populate this map with more information in the coming months would appreciate your input in any/all of the following ways:

1. If your agency or community has completed any traffic studies that include bicyclist and/or pedestrian data, please send SEMCOG the files for inclusion in this map.
2. If your agency or community could benefit from multi-modal or bike/ped study, contact us as we may be able to assist either this year or next.
3. Let us know if you have any suggestions or improvements to this map. We aspire to provide a more useful and intuitive experience with each update.