Freomt Bridge

Fremont Bridge Bike Counter

Photo from Puget Sound Business Journal

Photo from Puget Sound Business Journal

I try to note my count every time I pass the bike counter on the Fremont Bridge. It occurred to me that you, dear reader, might not know what this is all about. The summer after I moved to Seattle, grant money supported the installation of this counter that is said to resemble counters in Copenhagen. The counter is a pillar that electronically counts every bike that passes via ground sensor. It was installed on one of the most, if not the most, bicycle traveled bridge in all of Seattle. The little pillar has been counting cyclists ever since. I am not sure how accurate it is, if it counts strollers and power chairs that sort of thing. Also, several cyclists ignore the narrow bike and pedestrian passage for the road, or bike on the wrong side of the bridge, not being counted. These are small numbers compared to those who cross the counter, so I expect it to be mostly accurate. Being that I love data, I get a kick out of this counter every time I cause the number to tick. It fascinates me how the numbers triple, quadruple, every May during bike month, only to drop back down to regular numbers in June, even if the weather is still good. It also fascinates me how, at any given time I ride, and am within 50 (and usually less) counts of where I was the day before. This tells me that most cyclists in the city are commuters.