Spain Tops New Count of Bicycling Growth

Overall, sensors show 3 percent uptick between 2014 and 2015.

Eco-Counter on Seattle’s Fremont Bridge (Photo by Parker Knight via Flickr)

This is your first of three free stories this month. Become a free or sustaining member to read unlimited articles, webinars and ebooks.

Become A Member

Bike traffic rose by 3 percent, or 4.6 million trips, between 2014 and 2015 across the dozens of cities, states and countries where France-headquartered Eco-Counter has installed sensors. The company provides pedestrian and cyclist counting services to governments, business improvement districts and more.

The “2015 Eco-Counter Worldwide Cycling Index,” released Monday, measures the rate of change in total bicycle counts between 2014 and 2015 at 1,490 of the firm’s sensors in 17 countries, and points to Spain as the country with the greatest growth in cycling mode share last year with an increase of 8 percent over the year before.

Among the places where Eco-Counter collects data, Switzerland and Canada tied for second place with a 6 percent increase; Finland and the U.S. tied for third, with an increase of 4 percent. Eco-Counter notes that its 2014 index showed no growth in the U.S. or Canada.

In an attempt to distinguish between recreational cycling and commuting, Eco-Counter worked with McGill University researchers to develop a pattern analysis algorithm and found that the 3 percent bike traffic increase breaks down into a 4 percent increase in cycle commuting and a 2 percent increase in leisure cycling. Last year’s index indicated an 8 percent total increase in cycle trips, though an Eco-Counter official noted by email that this year’s index considered data from more than twice the number of sensors, making it a stronger measure.

(Credit: Eco-Counter)

While we don’t know if the 4.6 million bike trips logged in the 2015 index kept people away from driving a car, Eco-Counter estimates that, given the average bike trip is 3 kilometers, the 3 percent increase measured could account for a 900-ton reduction in CO2 emissions.

The 17 countries included in the index varied widely in the number of counters with available data for analysis. France had 406, for example, while the Czech Republic had just 18. To calculate the total increase, sensor data was weighted to account for number of sensors per country and country population.

Like what you’re reading? Get a browser notification whenever we post a new story. You’re signed-up for browser notifications of new stories. No longer want to be notified? Unsubscribe.

Jen Kinney is a freelance writer and documentary photographer. Her work has also appeared in Philadelphia Magazine, High Country News online, and the Anchorage Press. She is currently a student of radio production at the Salt Institute of Documentary Studies. See her work at jakinney.com.

Follow Jen .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Tags: bikingcommutingbig data

×
Next City App Never Miss A StoryDownload our app ×
×

You've reached your monthly limit of three free stories.

This is not a paywall. Become a free or sustaining member to continue reading.

  • Read unlimited stories each month
  • Our email newsletter
  • Webinars and ebooks in one click
  • Our Solutions of the Year magazine
  • Support solutions journalism and preserve access to all readers who work to liberate cities

Join 1106 other sustainers such as:

  • Bruce in Muncie, IN at $60/Year
  • John in Dayton, OH at $120/Year
  • Andrea at $100/Year

Already a member? Log in here. U.S. donations are tax-deductible minus the value of thank-you gifts. Questions? Learn more about our membership options.

or pay by credit card:

All members are automatically signed-up to our email newsletter. You can unsubscribe with one-click at any time.

  • Donate $20 or $5/Month

    20th Anniversary Solutions of the Year magazine

has donated ! Thank you 🎉
Donate
×