State seeks volunteers to count bicyclists, walkers in Kent and other cities
Published 9:59 am Thursday, August 18, 2011
Volunteers are needed Sept. 27-29 in Kent and other selected cities across the state to help count people who bicycle or walk to their destinations.
For this fourth annual survey, the Washington State Department of Transportation and the Cascade Bicycle Club are enlisting volunteers and organizations like FeetFirst and the Bicycle Alliance of Washington to count the numbers of people bicycling and walking on paths, bike lanes, sidewalks, and other facilities, according to a Aug. 17 state DOT media release.
“This annual count of bicyclists and pedestrians helps us more accurately measure demand, gauge the results of our investments and plan for future improvement projects,” said Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond. “The information volunteers collect helps ensure that we are investing transportation dollars on priority projects, in locations where they are needed most.”
The state DOT’s count is part of the National Documentation Project, an annual bicycle and pedestrian count and survey effort that is sponsored by the Institute of Transportation Engineers Pedestrian and Bicycle Council. The count will also help measure the state DOT’s progress toward the goal of increasing bicycling and walking while reducing the number of vehicle miles driven.
The state DOT and the Cascade Bicycle Club are asking volunteers from across the state to perform the counts in the cities of Bainbridge Island, Bellevue, Bellingham, Bothell, Bremerton, Burien, Ellensburg, Everett, Issaquah, Kelso, Kent, Kirkland, Longview, Mercer Island, Mountlake Terrace, Olympia, Puyallup, Redmond, Richland, Seattle, Shoreline, Spokane, Tacoma, Tukwila, Vancouver, Walla Walla, Wenatchee and Yakima.
Those interested in helping can learn more by visiting the state DOT website at www.wsdot.wa.gov, or by contacting the Cascade Bicycle Club at tessa.greegor@cascadebicycleclub.org or 206-204-0913.
