Comments on: Why cycle count numbers are only half the story

By: Peter Harris

Peter Harris — Mon, 16 Aug 2021 20:57:51 +0000

With the Papanui Parallel at my gate, I use the cycle path frequently. I would estimate that about 50% of my trips on that path do not cross counters.

By: Robert

Robert — Mon, 16 Aug 2021 19:56:10 +0000

In reply to Robert. And also counted 77 bikes during that one hour journey. Admittedly 8 were parked up outside a cafe in Kaiapoi . 55 of them were counted between Rangiora and Kaiapoi ( 17 on the Passchendaele Path ) . There were only bits of the motorway path that you can see from the road but that was certainly in use also.

By: Robert

Robert — Mon, 16 Aug 2021 19:49:17 +0000

Public transport is much the same as well. Those who say that the buses are always empty may perhaps regularly observe a bus route near it’s terminus without having any idea how many passengers got on and off during that service. I travelled from Rangiora to Merivale last Sunday at midday and was pleasantly surprised that for the entire journey the bus was between 1/3 and 2/3 full and more surprised that people were getting on and off at pretty much every stop. Add up everyone and the total would have been more than sufficient to near fill 2 buses.

By: roeland

roeland — Mon, 16 Aug 2021 11:08:35 +0000

In reply to Criggie.

Isn’t this also how car counts work? And overseas cycling counters? It may not be totally accurate, but it is apples to apples.

This number, 500, is also the one to figure out things like how wide it should be, not the total of 1000.

The busiest in Auckland is around 1,500 per day. So what if it is a bit off. The question (mainly for the council) is the same—why isn’t this 10,000 per day in a spot like Kingsland? These differences are so stark that the distinction between 500 and 1000 doesn’t matter.

The much more important fallacy in that assertion is assuming that this number will not grow.

By: Sara Templeton

Sara Templeton — Mon, 16 Aug 2021 05:12:34 +0000

Also useful to use a car analogy for some readers – we count vehicle trip on some streets, but not all and acknowledge that total trips are likely to be higher. We also often use only part of a street when we are driving somewhere, but that doesn’t make the rest of the street irrelevant, as others will be using it.
Drivers also use roads for trips that aren’t a work commute and those other trips – to cafes, shops, libraries or the gym etc – are just as valid as commute trips, and the same goes for those who use their bike instead of those trips 🙂

By: chrismorahan

chrismorahan — Mon, 16 Aug 2021 03:28:55 +0000

Nice – love the diagrams. My daily ride uses a portion of the Quarryman’s trail but I don’t cross any counters.

By: Criggie

Criggie — Sun, 15 Aug 2021 22:23:43 +0000

My route used to go across the middle of North Hagley park, avoiding the counter toward Mickle gate.
On realising this, I started riding a bit further just to catch the counter. Is that bad ?

Now I come via Blenheim Road and the Hospital corner, so catch the netball court counter along with the footbridge counter.

By: Heidi O'Callahan

Heidi O'Callahan — Sun, 15 Aug 2021 22:13:13 +0000

Nice, concise piece. Thanks, this will be useful.

By: Andreas Wesener

Andreas Wesener — Sun, 15 Aug 2021 21:37:26 +0000

Thank you LennyBoy for this excellent example, which clearly illustrates the issue of relying only on counters. Here’s my own anecdotal evidence: I live half-way up the Northern Line Major Cycle Route and use it often to get up to Northlands. I also use it to get down to Riccarton or CBD; however less frequently. The counter, however, is located on the section between Fendalton Road and Wroxton Terrace, so about 70% of my trips on the Northern Line go unaccounted…