Bicyclists

Bicycle Counts

Commuter Cycling Indicator

DOT tracks trends in New York City commuter cycling using the Commuter Cycling Indicator (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

DOT conducted its first comprehensive “screenline” count of bicyclists in 1980. The count captures 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. Since 1985 the count has been conducted annually. The count had historically been conducted in July or August. In 2007 DOT began counting three times a year in May, August and September. The count is performed midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday), and includes a 12-hour count (7am to 7pm) and, since 2007, an 18-hour count (6am to 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. The 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.

2011 Bicycle Screenline Count Details

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