Volunteers needed for upcoming annual bike/ped count

Every bicyclist counts. That’s why it’s important to get enough volunteers out in more than 40 cities across Washington on Sept. 30 – Oct. 2 to count bike commuters.

Bike traffic on I-90 bridge

The results help demonstrate that money for bike lanes, bike paths, and other infrastructure increases bike traffic and reduces traffic congestion and its unhealthy side-effects.

WSDOT has a goal to increase bicycling and walking to reduce the total vehicle miles driven.

The statewide count is part of the National Documentation Project sponsored by the Institute of Transportation Engineers’ Pedestrian and Bicycle Council.

The Washington Department of Transportation estimates that 400 volunteers will be needed this year. The easiest place to sign up is at the online Bike/Ped Count Volunteer Sign-up Form.

You can choose your hours – 7 to 9 a.m. or 4 to 6 p.m. – on any of the three dates at the location of your choice. After you sign up, someone will contact you with details about the forms and materials. Here’s an example of the instructions.

Cascade Bicycle Club is helping to coordinate the effort.

Spokane and Tacoma have the biggest need for volunteers right now. All the cities are:

Bainbridge Island
Bellevue
Bellingham
Bothell
Bremerton
Burien
Ellensburg
Everett
Federal Way
Issaquah
Kent
Kirkland
Lake Forest Park
Lakewood
Longview-Kelso
Mercer Island
Milton
Mountlake Terrace
Oak Harbor
Olympia
Orting
Parkland
Puyallup
Redmond
Renton
Richland
Seattle
Shoreline
Spokane
Spokane Valley
Tacoma
Tukwila
University Place
Vancouver
Vashon Island
Walla Walla
Wenatchee
Yakima