Columbia seeks public’s help in count of pedestrians, bicyclists

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Columbia is conducting a count of pedestrians and bicyclists — and is enrolling the public’s help.

The city is seeking volunteers to help conduct its routine Pedestrian & Bicyclist Counts throughout Columbia.

By counting pedestrians and bicyclists, volunteers help to ensure that all of the city’s residents count: transit riders, pedestrians and bicyclists are often not accounted for in traffic studies — the same traffic studies used to make important decisions about the city’s landscape, according to a news release. In counting, volunteers are also taking part in a national effort: The National Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation Project.

The city targets key intersections and crossings for pedestrian and bicyclist counts; these are locations which are heavily used, and at many of these locations pedestrians and/or bicyclists have been injured or killed, the release stated. By collecting data routinely, on weekdays and weekends, the city is able to provide valuable feedback to the many agencies that plan for the city’s roadways.

To take part in the count click here.

The survey helps planners and transportation agencies better understand who uses the city’s roadways – streets and sidewalks included – and how they use them. A greater understanding of people’s behavior, as well as new data, can help lead to people-oriented planning and policy that inspires walkable, bikeable, and livable transportation design, the release stated.

Nine time slots are available, and each location must be counted once on a weekday and once on a Saturday. Here is the schedule:

• Saturday, April 6, 10 a.m.-noon
• Tuesday, April 9, 7:30-9:30 a.m.
• Wednesday, April 10, 7:30-9:30 a.m.
• Thursday, April 11, 7:30-9:30 a.m.
• Saturday, April 13, 10 a.m.-noon
• Tuesday, April 16, 7:30-9:30 a.m.
• Wednesday, April 17, 7:30-9:30 a.m.
• Thursday, April 18, 7:30-9:30 a.m.
• Saturday, April 20, 10 a.m.-noon