Smile for the camera! Seattle finds a new way to make it count

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The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) will begin 2011 with a new bicycle and pedestrian count methodology developed through the National Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation Project.

The city has contracted a company to conduct bicycle and pedestrian counts once per quarter this year, with the first count periods occurring Jan. 11 to 13. The contractor will use cameras at the count locations, which is great news since filling all the spots with volunteers is a huge challenge.

Following a consistent, nationally recognized methodology will improve the quality and reliability of SDOT’s data.  The information collected will help measure the city’s progress toward increasing the number of people who walk and bike, and help make the case for improvements and investments.