National trail user count effort needs local volunteers

Make ’em count!
(Photo © J. Maus)

Metro is coordinating a regional effort to count the number of people using local trails and they need volunteers to help make it happen. The effort is part of the National Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation Project and the counts will take place in mid-September.

Here’s a excerpt from the documentation project site about why these counts are so important:

One of the greatest challenges facing the bicycle and pedestrian field is the lack of documentation on usage and demand. Without accurate and consistent demand and usage figures, it is difficult to measure the positive benefits of investments in these modes, especially when compared to the other transportation modes such as the private automobile. An answer to this need for data is the National Bicycle & Pedestrian Documentation Project, co-sponsored by and Alta Planning and Design and the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Pedestrian and Bicycle Council. This nationwide effort provides consistent model of data collection and ongoing data for use by planners, governments, and bicycle and pedestrian professionals.

Metro’s Associate Regional Trails Planner Robert Spurlock will be coordinating the count effort in the Portland region. Volunteer coordinators have been designated from the cities of Portland, Vancouver, Hillsboro, Beaverton, Tualatin Hills, Clackamas County, Gresham, and Tigard. For more information, get in touch with Spurlock via email at robert[dot]spurlock@oregonmetro[dot]gov or by calling (503) 813-7560.