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Bicyclists

Bicycle Counts


Commuter Cycling Indicator

DOT tracks trends in New York City commuter cycling using the Commuter Cycling Indicator (pdf) (updated fall 2011). The Indicator is derived from counts of bicycle traffic over the four East River Bridges, the Staten Island Ferry, and on the Hudson River Greenway. DOT count cyclists monthly from April to October, with three additional counts in May, August and September for a total of 10 counts per year. In 2011, the Indicator showed an increase over 102% compared to 2007 and by 289% compared to 2001.

Highlights of the 2011 Indicator include:

  • Commuter cycling grew by 8% from 2010 to 2011
  • Commuter cycling more than doubled from 2007 to 2011
  • Commuter cycling nearly quadrupled in the last decade

Bicycle Screenline Count

The Bicycle Screenline Count tracks bicycle traffic entering and leaving the Manhattan core via the East River Bridges, the Staten island Ferry, each avenue at 50th Street and the Hudson River Greenway. DOT conducted its first comprehensive “screenline” count of bicyclists in 1980. The count has been conducted annually since 1985. Since 2007, DOT has counted three times a year, in May, August and September. The count had historically been conducted in July or August. The count is performed midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday), and includes a 12-hour count (7 am–7 pm) and, since 2007, an 18-hour count (6 am–midnight). The data collected through the screenline count is used to derive the Commuter Cycling Indicator.
Download the screenline counts for 2000–2011 (pdf)

The data are incorporated into New York Metropolitan Transportation Council's annual Hub-Bound Travel Report. NYMTC also collects data on cycling in the five boroughs and suburbs through the NYMTC Bicycle Data Collection Program.

Bicycle Screenline Counts

Rounded to the nearest hundred. Years marked with (*) are the average of May, August and September counts.

Year

12-hour

18-hour

1980 6,600 N/A
1990 10,900 N/A
2000 12,800 N/A
2005 16,300 N/A
2006 22,300 N/A
2007* 19,900 27,000
2008* 22,700 31,200
2009* 28,300 38,400
2010* 33,000 43,600
2011* 34,600 48,300

2011 Bicycle Screenline Count Details

Counts are the average of May, August and September counts, rounded to the nearest ten.

Road or Bridge

12 Hour Avg

18 Hour Avg

18-Hour as Pct. of Total

First Ave 960 1,430 3.0%
Second Ave 1,240 1,860 3.8%
Third Ave 1,260 1,890 3.9%
Lexington Ave 950 1,370 2.8%
Park Ave 1,110 1,640 3.4%
Madison Ave 870 1,220 2.5%
Fifth Ave 1,250 1,760 3.6%
Sixth Ave 1,560 2,320 4.8%
Seventh Ave 850 1,270 2.6%
Broadway 1,070 1,470 3.0%
Eighth Ave 1,510 2,250 4.7%
Ninth Ave 1,480 2,310 4.8%
Tenth Ave 550 910 1.9%
Eleventh Ave 570 740 1.5%
Twelfth Ave 130 170 0.4%
Hudson River Greenway 5,480 7,120 14.7%
Subtotal 20,840 29,730 61.5%
Brooklyn Bridge 2,360 3,020 6.3%
Queensboro Bridge 2,980 3,910 8.1%
Williamsburg Bridge 4,330 6,220 12.9%
Manhattan Bridge 3,730 4,970 10.3%
Staten Island Ferry 370 490 10.%
Subtotal 13,760 18,610 38.5%
Total 34,600 48,320 100.0%

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