Objective: This project developed a new method to estimate cyclist and pedestrian activity at the census tract level of geography based on a combination of travel survey, census, and land use data. Two sets of activity estimates were calculated based on two different travel surveys that were conducted in California: the 2009 National Household Travel Survey (NHTS) and the 2010-2012 California Household Travel Survey (CHTS).
Need: Vehicle activity is an output of travel models, but detailed estimates of bicycle and pedestrian activity are often not available. Good estimates of the total amount of cyclist and pedestrian activity on our roads are needed for two main purposes. First, knowing how much cyclists and pedestrians are using roadways can inform where investments in bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure are needed. Second, estimates of total cyclist and pedestrian activity can serve as the denominator for calculation of cyclist and pedestrian accident rates, which, in turn, help to identify locations for road safety investment.
Products: This project produced a summary report and a dataset of estimated miles of walking and biking by census tract for California.