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WFP: Walking, cycling can be deadly - As more of us hike and bike, will death toll rise? (Aug.15'11)
by Beth McKechnie 15 Aug '11

15 Aug '11

Walking, cycling can be deadly As more of us hike and bike, will death toll rise? By: Jen Skerritt http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/walking-cycling--can-be-deadly-12771… Pedestrians and cyclists have long been a major part of traffic deaths and injuries, Winnipeg police say, and there's increasing cause for concern as more people take up walking or bike riding. In the last 18 months, for instance, 29 people died on Winnipeg streets in car crashes, and 18 of them were pedestrians or cyclists. Since 2007, 79 people have died on Winnipeg streets in vehicle collisions, including 36 pedestrians and cyclists. So far this year, four pedestrians have been killed on Winnipeg roads. Of the 18 serious or fatal crashes that police investigated in 2011 to date, 11 involve pedestrians and two involve cyclists. Active-transportation activist Anders Swanson said he's worried society has collectively forgotten these deaths are preventable and lowering vehicle speed and investing in better infrastructure can help prevent them. He said governments spend millions of dollars on research to prevent deaths caused by disease, but comparably spend very little on preventing road crashes. "Here you have this one cause of death, which is basically preventable, and we're not doing anything about it," Swanson said. Sometimes, accidents happen at intersections or pedestrian corridors. Other times, pedestrians are jaywalking, intoxicated or not paying attention. Most years, Winnipeg Police Patrol Sgt. Damian Turner said, between 20 and 25 people die on Winnipeg roads, and a substantial portion of those deaths are people who were crossing the street or cycling. According to the latest police data, 140 pedestrians and 79 cyclists were injured on Winnipeg roads in 2009. Police are still reviewing data from last year. "We're concerned about the fact that pedestrians are being hit," Turner said. "It is common. We've known for a number of years that a significant proportion of the fatalities we're going to experience every year are going to be pedestrians." Turner said he's seen cases where drivers do not see the pedestrian, including an instance on Portage Avenue where a bus driver did not see someone crossing. He also said he sees people every day who dart across the street after taking a quick look at the traffic and "just run for their lives." A number of pedestrian fatalities in the city's core area have involved intoxicated people, he said. Unlike other cities, jaywalking is not illegal in Winnipeg so police do not hand out fines or tickets. "Unfortunately, the only accountability is when they get smacked by a car and they're killed or severely injured," Turner said. "The result is that a driver who, a lot of the time is not at fault, suffers the trauma of knowing they've hit a pedestrian they really couldn't control." Swanson, co-ordinator of One Green City, a volunteer project to create a network of safe cycling routes, said part of the problem is that the current road system was designed with cars in mind, not people, and it will take time and money to make streets safer. Last year, the city spent $24 million on bike-and-pedestrian upgrades to 35 routes. The overhaul was part of an infrastructure-stimulus program funded by all three levels of government. Swanson said it's a good starting point, but there's still a long way to go. "Since the car has caught on, we've invested almost exclusively on automobile infrastructure for decades. It's going to take a big investment to make things safer," he said. High-volume intersections such as Portage and Main are designed to take pedestrians out of the mix, and the city keeps tabs on problem areas that may need a pedestrian crossing. City road engineer Stephen Chapman said the city examines 10 years of collision data when concerns are raised about pedestrian safety. The city looks at the volume of cars, the number of pedestrians and factors in any reported collisions to determine if engineering improvements could make the road safer. While new roads are built with safety in mind, Chapman said Winnipeg has a lot of older areas that still need to be brought up to modern standards. Sometimes, he said, the city will put in a guard rail, widen a sidewalk, raise curbs and move a light stand back to address safety concerns. "When you have a road that was designed years and years ago, it's older and may not meet certain standards," he said. "We try to bring it to those standards." Chapman said in recent years the intersections prone to the highest number of pedestrian crashes -- including Portage Avenue and Langside Street and Osborne Street and Wardlaw Avenue-- have had lights replaced by half-signals facing just one, not both, of the roadways. Often, he said, the width of the road can make it more difficult for pedestrians to cross and the city needs to make it clear who has the right of way. Widening the streets to make it safer for pedestrians is tricky in older areas of the city. Winnipeg has narrow, old roads and dated bridges that make seriation safety upgrades difficult. "We're always working toward improving the pedestrian crossings in the city and concentrating our efforts on areas that are most problematic for collisions," he said. But those upgrades have to be done within a limited budget. This year, the traffic engineering improvement program -- which is responsible for intersection and road design improvements and pedestrian corridors -- will spend a total of $1.95 million. Chapman said the branch prioritizes projects according to need, and works within their annual budget to get things done and move other projects up the list. While Chapman said the good news is the city is in the midst of major road upgrades -- including the Chief Peguis Trail extension -- due to partnerships with other levels of government, the city's infrastructure deficit is a daunting $3.8 billion. Earlier this year, staff and parents from École River Heights asked council's public works committee for a pedestrian crossing at Elm Street, where students get off the bus. In the last eight years, five students have been taken to the hospital after a vehicle struck them. The committee agreed to move the existing pedestrian corridor from Oak Street to Elm Street, but decided against overhead flashing lights to alert drivers a student is crossing. Parent council chairman Rod Miller said the city told him the crossing doesn't meet the criteria to have flashing lights and 88 per cent of similarly requested projects are ahead on the city's list. Miller said he doesn't understand why the city will not take the extra step and eliminate any potential risk to students. "It's frustrating from where I sit," he said. "If between now and the time the thing is done a kid gets hit and breaks a leg, what's the cost? $100,000, $200,000 minimum, versus a $32,000 installation. Where's the money better spent?" Swanson said he would like to see citizens say "enough is enough" and demand Winnipeg strive for zero road fatalities. He said every Winnipegger needs to take responsibility and decide that people have the right to get from point A to point B safely. "In an urban environment, I don't see any reason for people to die unnecessarily," Swanson said. jen.skerritt(a)freepress.mb.ca *The numbers* *2011: four deaths, (as of Aug. 2, 2011)* April 3: Redwood Avenue and Powers Street April 13: Henderson Highway and Leighton Avenue June 13: Main Street and Higgins Avenue June 29: Pembina Highway and Dalhousie Drive (cyclist) *2010: 12 pedestrian deaths and two cyclist deaths* March 18: Taylor Avenue and Waverley Street March 27: Main Street and Atlantic Avenue April 11: Main Street and Machray Avenue April 15: 1145 Dakota St. June 17: Main Street and Jarvis Avenue (cyclist) June 25: Manitoba Avenue and Charles Street (cyclist) July 15: McPhillips Street and Templeton Avenue Aug. 11: Portage Avenue and Raglan Road Aug. 21: 1670 Portage Ave. Oct. 25: Mountain Avenue and McGregor Street Dec. 19: 446 Young St. Dec. 20: Portage Avenue and Sherbrook Street Dec. 23: McPhillips Street and Pacific Avenue Dec. 24: Fife Street and Inkster Boulevard 2009: 1 cyclist death July 4: Jefferson Avenue and Airlies Street (cyclist) *2008: six pedestrian deaths* Feb. 1: Kenaston Boulevard and Boulton Bay Feb. 11: Grant Avenue and Lilac Street June 7: Selkirk Avenue and Andrews Street June 25: Donald Street and St. Mary Avenue Sept. 26: Notre Dame Avenue and Spruce Street Dec. 29: Isabel Street and Ross Avenue *2007: six pedestrians and three cyclists* March 23: Mountain Avenue and Kildarroch Street May 23: McPhillips Street and Leila Avenue July 24 - Burrows Avenue and McGregor Street (cyclist) Sept. 14: St. Mary's Road and Oakleigh Place Sept. 28: Redonda Street and Gunn Road (cyclist) Oct. 31 - Warsaw Avenue and Harrow Street (cyclist) Nov. 6: Inkster Boulevard and Sinclair Street Nov. 13: 1395 Grant Ave. Dec. 6: Kenaston Boulevard and Sterling Lyon Parkway -- Source: Winnipeg Police Service

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Webinar reminder: Wed, Aug 17, 2-3 pm, Designing Bridges for Active Transportation
by Beth McKechnie 15 Aug '11

15 Aug '11

Bike to the Future and Green Action Centre invite you to join us for this webinar being presented by the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP): * *Location:* EcoCentre boardroom (303 Portage Ave, 3rd floor)* * * ** ** *Designing and Retrofitting Bridges for Active Transportation* *Wednesday, August 17 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. Central Time *** Bridges are highly visible and symbolic pieces of infrastructure; they act as gateways and when done right can showcase a city's commitment to creating great places for bicycling and walking. With national attention on the USA's degrading and deficient infrastructure, bridge repair and rehabilitation will be a major engineering focus in coming years. This represents a historic opportunity to incorporate bicycle and pedestrian facilities in bridge design for future generations. Engineers, planners, advocates, and agency staff at all levels of government should attend this webinar to get up to speed on the policy, planning and design issues specific to building bridges that meet goals for supporting and increasing active transportation. Attendees will learn: • to identify the role of bridges in bicycle and pedestrian networks as critical links for accessibility between trip generators and popular destinations; • to define bicycle and pedestrian issues that arise during bridge rehabilitation in order to increase bicycling and walking mode share and safety; • to identify facility designs that safely manage transitions from different facility types, as well as how to select the appropriate cross section (i.e. how to divide space among different roadway users); • to recognize that bridge rehabilitations often involve multiple jurisdictions, and to discuss the complexities and lessons learned from working with numerous agencies and stakeholders. Examples will be taken from Massachusetts' accelerated bridge retrofit program in the Charles River Basin. Click on this link<http://www.apbp.org/link.asp?e=jessie@greenactioncentre.ca&job=426763&ymlin…>to learn the background about LivableStreets Alliance's Charles River Better Bridges Campaign. Click here<http://www.apbp.org/link.asp?e=jessie@greenactioncentre.ca&job=426763&ymlin…>to read the League of American Bicyclists' policy report, *Bridging the Gaps in Bicycling Networks: An advocate's guide to getting bikes on bridges*. Presenters are Jacqueline Douglas, Director, LivableStreets Alliance, and Nick Jackson, the Regional Office Director for Toole Design Group in Boston. -- *Beth McKechnie* | Workplace Commuter Options <http://greenactioncentre.ca/>Green Action Centre<http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3772 | Find us here<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member<http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/memberships/>

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Some bike news from Treehugger
by Stacy Matwick 11 Aug '11

11 Aug '11

More Bike News: David Suzuki on Bike Lanes, The Guardian On Toronto's War on Bikes by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 08.11.11 http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/08/more-bike-news-david-suzuki.php Stacy Matwick Information Centre International Institute for Sustainable Development 161 Portage Ave. E., 6th floor Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3B 0Y4 Voice: (204)958-7755 Fax: (204)958-7710 Email: smatwick(a)iisd.ca<mailto:smatwick@iisd.ca> IISD Research Library web page: http://www.iisd.org/ic SD-Cite: IISD Research Library database: http://sd-cite.iisd.org<http://sd-cite.iisd.org/> GENERata web-magazine: http://www.iisd.org/generata/ "Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read" Groucho Marx

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It's time to make cycling safer: Ontario's doctors
by Beth McKechnie 11 Aug '11

11 Aug '11

It’s Time to Make Cycling Safer: Ontario’s Doctors*Toronto, August 10, 2011*- The most recent report on cycling injuries revealed that in 2009, there were 26,000 emergency department visits and over 1,300 hospitalizations in Ontario. With increasing interest in cycling across the province, Ontario’s doctors are urging the provincial government to make cyclists’ safety a priority. Dr. Stewart Kennedy, President of the Ontario Medical Association, released a comprehensive and in-depth report, “Enhancing Cycling Safety in Ontario<https://www.oma.org/Resources/Documents/OMACyclingPaper09-08-2011.pdf>,” before he cycled through downtown Toronto to raise money for the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s Big Bike event. The report included a number recommendations aimed at increasing cyclists’ safety. Among the recommendations, Ontario’s doctors are calling for: - The provincial government to develop policy and programs, including funding, to facilitate safe cycling, and for municipal governments to redouble their efforts to build much-needed cycling infrastructure; - Connected networks of roads with paved shoulders in rural settings, to allow for the much needed separation between cyclists and fast-travelling vehicles on rural roads; - The Ontario Drivers’ Manual to be revised to include a comprehensive section on vehicle-bicycle interaction, and furthermore that the Ontario’s Drive Test include this in the examination of new drivers; - Ongoing delivery of bicycle safety education for young children through such programs as Can-Bike, and that such training be mandatory for all Ontario primary school students; and - Education material for both drivers and cyclists that emphasizes intersection-specific dangers. A safer environment for cycling is crucial to creating a healthier population. Ontario’s doctors want to make sure that Ontarians feel safe when riding their bicycles. For the complete list of recommendations from “Enhancing Cycling Safety in Ontario” please visit www.oma.org * Quotes *“Two-thirds of Canadians are inactive, putting them at greater risk of chronic disease. Cycling is a great a way to stay fit and a way for people of all ages to add essential physical activity to their daily lives and improve their health.” *Stewart Kennedy, MD, President of the Ontario Medical Association *“The debate about bicycle infrastructure is so often politically driven, but should really be about the health of the population and safety of those who choose to cycle. Ontario’s doctors are committed to working with the province and municipalities to create a safer Ontario for our cyclists.” *Stewart Kennedy, MD, President of the Ontario Medical Association Quick Facts * - Annually more than 2,000 cyclists are injured in vehicle-bicycle collisions alone; - 68 per cent of car-bike collisions happen at intersections and these most frequently involve children riding off of the sidewalk; and - In the past five years cycling fatalities from these collisions have averaged 20 per year. For more information please contact: OMA Media Relations at (416) 340-2862 or toll-free at 1-800-268-7215 ext. 2862 www.oma.org @Ontariosdoctors <http://twitter.com/#%21/OntariosDoctors>

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I like this Mayor's stance on parking in bike lanes
by Erik Dickson 10 Aug '11

10 Aug '11

If only... http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/daily-buzz/mayor-lithuania-crushes-car-tank- parking-bike-lane-204422571.html Regards, Erik Dickson WE'VE MOVED Suite 1120 201 Portage Avenue Winnipeg, MB R3B 3K6 ph: (204) 927-3444 ext. 242 fax: (204) 927-3443 web: www.scatliff.ca blog: http://scatliff.tumblr.com Please consider our environment before printing this message.

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Bicyclist harassment outlawed by LA City Council
by Beth McKechnie 08 Aug '11

08 Aug '11

Bicyclist harassment outlawed by Los Angeles City Council New law makes it a crime for drivers to threaten cyclists verbally or physically. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-bicycle-law-20110721,0,3219222.story By Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times July 21, 2011 The Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday passed a pioneering new law intended to protect bicyclists from harassment by motorists. The ordinance, which backers described as the toughest of its kind in the nation, makes it a crime for drivers to threaten cyclists verbally or physically, and allows victims of harassment to sue in civil court without waiting for the city to press criminal charges. Its passage comes one day after a 63-year-old bicyclist was struck and killed by a car on a downtown street — an incident that bicycle advocates say underscores the dangers cyclists face. The new law is the latest bicycle-friendly measure to hit L.A., where an increasingly vocal community of activists has been calling for more protections. Several of them showed up at City Hall on Wednesday to share stories of harassment; they described motorists who threw objects, shouted insults and tried to run them off the road. As the number of cyclists on L.A. streets has swelled — local census data from 2008 show that about 13,000 commute to work on bikes, a 48% increase over the last eight years — so too have conflicts between motorists and bicyclists. Some motorists have accused cyclists of flouting traffic laws, while cyclists have complained that they are treated like second-class citizens. The new law allows cyclists to sue in civil court and collect up to three times their damages, plus attorney's fees. Ross Hirsch, a lawyer who helped craft the law, said the potential for high compensation will make attorneys more likely to take on cyclists as clients. Andy Clarke, president of the League of American Bicyclists, said no other city offers bicyclists an equivalent civil recourse. "It's a groundbreaking move," he said. L.A. lawmakers have garnered national attention with several bike-friendly measures in the last two years. In 2011, the Los Angeles Police Department<http://www.latimes.com/topic/crime-law-justice/police/los-angeles-police-de…>convened a bicycle task force and launched new training that acquaints officers with laws that protect cyclists, including traffic codes that relate to bicycle lanes and rights of way. And earlier this year, the city passed an ambitious new bicycle master plan<http://clkrep.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2010/10-2385-S2_MISC_07-11-2011.pdf>that calls for the paving of more than 200 miles of new bicycle routes every five years. City Councilman Bill Rosendahl<http://www.latimes.com/topic/politics/bill-rosendahl-PEPLT007508.topic>, who championed that plan and wrote the new anti-harassment law, said, "It's about time cyclists have rights." He became an advocate for the community in 2008 after two cyclists pedaling on a curvy road in his Brentwood district were seriously injured when a driver slammed on his brakes in front of them. The motorist, physician Christopher Thompson, was convicted of numerous charges, including assault with a deadly weapon. At the state level, legislators are considering a law that would require drivers to give cyclists at least 3 feet of space while passing. Senate Bill 910 is cosponsored by the city of Los Angeles, and it has won the support of local politicians, including Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa<http://www.latimes.com/topic/politics/antonio-villaraigosa-PEPLT007500.topic>, who recently launched a "Give Me Three!" safety campaign. Villaraigosa knows how dangerous riding a bicycle can be. Last summer, he bruised his head and shattered his elbow when he was jolted off his bike by a turning taxicab. *kate.linthicum(a)latimes.com* Copyright © 2011, Los Angeles Times <http://www.latimes.com/>

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Feel Good Story: Winnipeg Bike Valet
by Anders Swanson 08 Aug '11

08 Aug '11

I though you would be interested in seeing a picture of people in Bombers' jerseys holding their bikes and waiting in line at a bike valet: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/Relax-car-culture-its-gonna-b… I spoke to David on Saturday and he told me that his numbers of bikes parked at Bomber's games have doubled since starting up just a year ago. Only 120 or so, but he keeps having to bring more racks and steal more space to make room at the site. (Although 120 may seem like an insignificant # compared to overall attendance, the # is growing rapidly....and 120 bikes represents alot of parking spaces, no matter what way you look at it. (Using the standard size on wikipedia <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parking_space>, it seems to works out to 21,600 sq. ft. (or half an acre) of asphalt saved.) ..now if we can just find a way to weld tailgates on all bikes, we'd be set. Regards, Anders For more info, or to volunteer, please visit: http://www.bicyclevaletwinnipeg.ca/

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Mark your calendar! Aug 17 webinar: Designing Bridges for Active Transportation
by Beth McKechnie 04 Aug '11

04 Aug '11

Bike to the Future and Green Action Centre invite you to join us for this webinar being presented by the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP): * *Location:* EcoCentre boardroom (303 Portage Ave, 3rd floor)* * * ** ** *Designing and Retrofitting Bridges for Active Transportation* *Wednesday, August 17 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. Central Time *** Bridges are highly visible and symbolic pieces of infrastructure; they act as gateways and when done right can showcase a city's commitment to creating great places for bicycling and walking. With national attention on the USA's degrading and deficient infrastructure, bridge repair and rehabilitation will be a major engineering focus in coming years. This represents a historic opportunity to incorporate bicycle and pedestrian facilities in bridge design for future generations. Engineers, planners, advocates, and agency staff at all levels of government should attend this webinar to get up to speed on the policy, planning and design issues specific to building bridges that meet goals for supporting and increasing active transportation. Attendees will learn: • to identify the role of bridges in bicycle and pedestrian networks as critical links for accessibility between trip generators and popular destinations; • to define bicycle and pedestrian issues that arise during bridge rehabilitation in order to increase bicycling and walking mode share and safety; • to identify facility designs that safely manage transitions from different facility types, as well as how to select the appropriate cross section (i.e. how to divide space among different roadway users); • to recognize that bridge rehabilitations often involve multiple jurisdictions, and to discuss the complexities and lessons learned from working with numerous agencies and stakeholders. Examples will be taken from Massachusetts' accelerated bridge retrofit program in the Charles River Basin. Click on this link<http://www.apbp.org/link.asp?e=jessie@greenactioncentre.ca&job=426763&ymlin…>to learn the background about LivableStreets Alliance's Charles River Better Bridges Campaign. Click here<http://www.apbp.org/link.asp?e=jessie@greenactioncentre.ca&job=426763&ymlin…>to read the League of American Bicyclists' policy report, *Bridging the Gaps in Bicycling Networks: An advocate's guide to getting bikes on bridges*. Presenters are Jacqueline Douglas, Director, LivableStreets Alliance, and Nick Jackson, the Regional Office Director for Toole Design Group in Boston. -- *Beth McKechnie* | Workplace Commuter Options <http://greenactioncentre.ca/>Green Action Centre<http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3772 | Find us here<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member<http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/memberships/>

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Bikeshare makes for a nice ride in Minneapolis
by Beth McKechnie 03 Aug '11

03 Aug '11

Bikeshares are popping up across North America, with Montreal's Bixi<https://montreal.bixi.com/>being the first. Here's a short video on the success of Minneapolis's system called Nice Ride <https://www.niceridemn.org/> (purchased from Bixi), which is now one year old. One thing to keep in mind is that bikeshares work best in cities with significant amounts of bike infrastructure (bike lanes, separated on-road bike paths, pathways, etc). http://www.grist.org/biking/2011-08-01-bikeshare-makes-for-a-nice-ride-in-m… cheers, Beth

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NYC Spring Bike Counts Show Steady Growth of 14 Percent
by Beth McKechnie 02 Aug '11

02 Aug '11

Spring Bike Counts Show Steady Growth of 14 Percent by Noah Kazis <http://www.streetsblog.org/author/noah-kazis/> on July 28, 2011 http://www.streetsblog.org/2011/07/28/spring-bike-counts-show-steady-growth… *The growth of cycling in New York City shows no signs of letting up.* The Department of Transportation’s latest count of cyclists entering the center of the city posted a 14 percent increase this spring<http://www.nyc.gov/portal/site/nycgov/menuitem.c0935b9a57bb4ef3daf2f1c701c7…>compared to last spring. If the trend holds up for the rest of 2011, it will mark the fifth consecutive year<http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/commuter_cycling_indicator_and_da…>of double digit growth. “More and more New Yorkers are choosing to get around town by bicycle, and by creating more bike lanes, we’re giving New Yorkers the option to safely choose to bike,” said Mayor Bloomberg in a statement. “It’s the City’s responsibility to adjust to trends in commuting and ensure our streets are safe for everyone on the road, and by improving our street network and strengthening enforcement of traffic laws, we’ve made our streets safer than ever – for everyone.” As noted by Andrea Bernstein at Transportation Nation<http://transportationnation.org/2011/07/28/breaking-new-york-city-biking-is…>, the new numbers were released by the mayor’s office, not the Department of Transportation. That, along with Bloomberg’s statement, is an encouraging sign that the mayor is embracing the increase in cycling as a major achievement — perhaps in recognition of the broad public support for expanding the bike network<http://www.streetsblog.org/2011/07/28/bike-lanes-more-popular-than-god/> . According to the DOT count, the number of commuter cyclists this spring rose 62 percent compared to the spring of 2008. Since 2000, the number has increased by 262 percent. Until now the city has released the annual screenline counts all at once each fall. DOT says they will now release the counts more frequently. One thing to look for in the next release: How the Manhattan Bridge bike detour<http://www.streetsblog.org/2011/07/18/wanted-better-protection-for-thousand…>, which includes several harrowing blocks on the Bowery, is affecting bike commuting over that bridge and the nearby Brooklyn Bridge. The screenline count, which the city has been collecting for decades, has its advantages and disadvantages. By counting the number of cyclists crossing the East River bridges, on the Hudson River Greenway at 50th Street, and at the Staten Island Ferry, the city captures a certain set of trips that doesn’t necessarily reflect the full citywide picture<http://www.streetsblog.org/2010/04/27/how-many-new-yorkers-bike-each-day/> . Census data actually showed cycling decreasing<http://www.streetsblog.org/2010/10/01/did-nyc-bike-commuting-decrease-in-20…>citywide in 2008 and 2009, but the Census has its own flaws. It only tracks people’s primary commuting mode, hiding non-work trips and people who commute by bike less than half the time. The numbers DOT announced today, in contrast, count actual, observed bike trips.

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