The Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program
Columbia, MO - Marin County, CA - Minneapolis, MN - Sheboygan County, WI
Preliminary Observations and Experiences

2007-2008 Bicycle and Pedestrian Counts: Marin County, CA

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This document summarizes and reflects preliminary results of pedestrian and bicyclist counts at twenty locations in Marin County, CA. The counts provide a snapshot of annual changes in walking and bicycling in the community. Data collection and evaluation are a key component of the Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program (NTPP); walking and bicycling activity at these locations will be counted every year from 2007 to 2010.

The chart shows bicycle and pedestrian activity on one weekday between 4 PM and 6 PM and one weekend between 12 PM and 2 PM in September 2007 and September 2008. The locations will be studied again in the fall of 2009 and 2010. Note that daily pedestrian and bicyclist activity levels do fluctuate and these data represent only one date in each year.

Bicyclist and Pedestrian Counts - 2007 and 2008
Graph that shows count observations for bicyclists and pedestrians. Weekday 2007: Bikes 905, Peds 2328; Weekday 2008: Bikes 1057, Peds 2149; Weekend 2007: Bikes 1339, Peds 2663; Weekend 2008: Bikes 1622, Peds 2403

Observations from 2007 to 2008:

Weekdays: 8% decrease in pedestrians, 17% increase in bicyclists
Weekends: 10% decrease in pedestrians, 21% increase in bicyclists

The locations were dispersed throughout the community. Ten of the locations were chosen for their proximity to future NTPP project sites. These projects, some of which are under construction, are:

Reconstruction of an abandoned railroad tunnel to a rail-with-trail facility (four locations)
New multi-use pathway and bike lanes (two locations)
New multi-use pathway (four locations)

The construction of these and the dozens of other projects planned for Marin County will likely increase nonmotorized transportation levels in the community as they are completed and for years to come.

For more information, please contact: Dan Dawson at 415-499-6287 or ddawson@co.marin.ca.us

Spring 2009 -- Prepared by the USDOT/Volpe Center for the Federal Highway Administration and NTPP Pilot Communities

Section 1807 of the Safe, Accountable Flexible Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users established the Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program (NTPP) in August 2005. Over the span of four years (2007-2010), the legislation authorizes $25 million for each of the NTPP's four pilot communities to construct and invest in nonmotorized transportation infrastructure and programs. The purpose of the NTPP is "to demonstrate the extent to which bicycling and walking can carry a significant part of the transportation load, and represent a major portion of the transportation solution, within selected communities."