The Bike Census Taker Pocket Guide
Why do a Bike Census?
The annual Bike Census shows a snapshot of Savannah bicycling trends helping to inform infrastructure planning, education efforts and measure any changes in the number of people using bikes as transportation. If we don’t measure, we’ll have to guess, and that’s just no good!
How does it work?
Census takers man four intersections along key bicycle corridors during peak travel times during two weekdays and a weekend. They stand adjacent to their intersection and mark “tallies” for their observations of the number of bikes and their direction of travel, the gender of riders, helmet wearing riders and whether the bike had a headlight mounted on it (this can be hard to see, do your best!). When the time period is over they add their tallies up for each category on their sheet and turn them in. When all of the data is in, some extrapolation can be used to estimate what weekly bike volumes might look like, as well as:
· Where cyclists are coming from, going to…
· Gender balance of riders (higher % of female riders is used by many agencies as a proxy for the “bike-friendliness” of a community)
· Helmet usage ( a measure of bicycle education effectiveness)
· Lights mounted ( a measure of bicycle education effectiveness and legal compliance)
Previous census takers have also documented additional observations like: wrong side of street travel (Lincoln St.), talking on cell phone while riding, headphones on while riding, etc. This can be a decent way to pass the time, and is interesting anecdotal information. Some intersections can just be too busy to do it though!
I’m in, How do I sign up?
To volunteer please sign up for a slot at THIS DOODLE POLL. Only click on times not filled by other volunteers. Volunteers are needed three times a day at each of the four intersections each Census Day. There are three Census days.
How do I get my Census Sheet?
After you have volunteered using the Doodle Poll there are two ways to get your Census Sheet. Census Sheets for each intersection are attached to this e-mail, you can print the appropriate sheet(s). You can pick up the appropriate sheets at the Mobility & Parking Services Office at 100 E. Bryan St. 9am-5pm Mon-Fri.
How do I turn my Census Sheet in?
If you have a scanner, you can scan your sheet and attach it to a reply to this e-mail. If not you can hand-deliver or mail it to the Mobility & Parking Services, 100 E. Bryan St., Savannah GA 31401. Please return the Census Sheet(s) within 3 days of taking your last Census, these things are easy to lose!
How awesome am I for volunteering?
So awesome! Thank you for helping make Savannah a better place to bike!
Questions? Contact Shawn Emerson at 651-3634.