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Bicycle counters areelectronic devices that detect the number ofbicycles passing by a location for a certain period of time.[1][2] Some advanced counters can also detect the speed, direction, and type of bicycles.[3] These systems are sometimes referred to asbicycle barometers,[4] but the term is misleading because it indicates themeasurement of pressure. Most counting stations only consist of sensors, the internal computing device, although some use a display to show the total number of cyclists of the day and the current year.[1] There are counting stations all over the world in over hundreds of cities,[5] for example inManchester,Zagreb, orPortland. The first bicycle counting station was installed inOdense,Denmark, in 2002.[1][4]
Bicycle counters are mainly being installed to assistcity planning with reliable data on the development of bicycle usage.[6][7][8] Bicycle counting stations are said to raise awareness for cycling as a mode of transportation, encourage more people to use their bicycles[1][2][6][9] and give cyclists acknowledgement.[4][7] There has been no representative study on the impact of bicycle counters on citizens or by-passers, but some early empirical clues that urban visualizations can "become appropriate communication media for sharing, discussing, and co-producing socially relevant data".[10]
To increase visibility, bicycle counters are mostly installed at positions with high traffic volume and visibility to a range of road users.[2]
They have been called urban visualizations[10] and fulfill certain criteria ofambient intelligence, such as beingembedded,context-aware andadaptive.[11] Bicycle counting stations can be described as persuasive technology.[12]
"Through sensing technology, a display can act as a tool that increases the capability to capture a behavior (e.g., measuring residential energy consumption, bicycle use, etc.); through its visual imagery, it can function as a medium that provides useful information, such as behavioral statistics or cause-and-effect relationships; and through its networking ability, it can become a social actor, encouraging community-based feedback and social interaction".[12]
Different techniques are used for detection of bicycles, such as built ininduction loops,piezoelectric strips[13], pneumatic hoses,[14]infrared sensing[5] or cameras.[2] Different setups provide different advantages such as more precise counting, battery life,[15] reduced costs or differentiation between different road users such as cyclists, pedestrians or cars.[16] Independent testing has shown thatpneumatic tubes can record with over 95% accuracy[17] and piezoelectric sensors reach 99% accuracy.[15] Manufacturers state a 90% precision forinduction loops.[5]
Unlike manual counting or other bicycle related interventions orcitizen science, where citizens manually put in data,[18] bicycle counting stations automatically generate citizen related data.[19] Automatic counting systems are said to be cheaper than manual counting by people.[8] Because of the use of communication technology in the urban context, bicycle counters can be counted assmart city technology,urban informatics orurban computing. Most of the organizations who install bicycle counters, provide the number of cyclists asopen data.[20]
There has been criticism on the precision of the counting[9][21] and on the cost of bicycle counters as a waste of tax money (14000-31000€).[21][22][23]
Different cities, such asBonn orLahti mentioned cyclists that are a round number of counting (like number 100.000).[24][25]
Cycling barometer is also the name of a ranking by theEuropean Cyclists' Federation for the most bicycle-friendly nations in theEU.[26]
There has been creative use of the data generated by counting stations, such as aninformation design poster which includes number of daily cyclists,precipitation andtemperature.[27]
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