March 28, 2018

Cycling for work or play

Auckland Transport publish data from cycle counters on various bike paths. They’re most interested in trends over time (increasing) and perhaps in seasonal variation (more in summer).

Here’s a look at weekday vs weekend counts using data from the start of 2016 to now (click to embiggen).

There are some paths that are clearly used primarily by commuters, with more than twice the average traffic on a weekday vs weekend. There are also some that are mostly used at the weekend, such as Matakana, Upper Harbour, and Mangere Bridge.  And some, like the Lightpath, that get used all the time.

Note: while it’s great that Auckland Transport publishes these data, the data would be easier to reuse if the names they used for each counter were consistent over time (eg: “Tamaki Dr” vs “Tamaki Drive”, or “Nelson Street Lightpath Counter Cyclists” vs “Nelson Street Lightpath Cyclists”)

 

avatar

Thomas Lumley (@tslumley) is Professor of Biostatistics at the University of Auckland. His research interests include semiparametric models, survey sampling, statistical computing, foundations of statistics, and whatever methodological problems his medical collaborators come up with. He also blogs at Biased and Inefficient See all posts by Thomas Lumley »

Comments

  • avatar
    Durden Spring

    Simply putting a percentage does not provide any real information. How many cyclists in Hopetoun before? Have there be any changes in surrounding route like roadworks, one-way introduction, traffic signal changes etc that means cycle traffic has just shifted.

    Providing an AT link saying its all there you go look for it is sloppy and disingeneous — especially given your academic chops stated your bio.

    7 years ago

    • avatar
      Thomas Lumley

      That’s a weekday vs weekend comparison for the weekdays and weekends over the same 26 month period. The most plausible explanation for a weekday vs weekend difference that I could think of is commuters. You haven’t come up with another one — I hope you’re planning to do so.

      Also, I don’t see why you have a problem with providing links to the data used. I routinely do, and routinely mention it when other people do. Everyone should do it. Even people you personally disagree with.

      7 years ago

  • avatar
    Durden Spring

    But I have gone ahead and had a detailed look. AT statistics shown below do not show any significant conclusions can be drawn except to say it fluctuates around an average of around “4300” trips and no major increases.

    And ATs definition of trips makes itsound like a big number. “Trips” can be used to roughly extrapolate how many real people actually use the route per day. Assume two trips per day i.e. to and fro, and 22 working week days per month, that is 97 cyclists per day (4300 divided by 2 and then divided by 22) . Compared that to people using other modes of travel ?

    7 years ago

    • avatar
      Thomas Lumley

      Yes that’s right. If anyone had said or implied that it was a substantial fraction of Auckland commuters you’d have a good point.

      7 years ago

  • avatar
    Durden Spring

    Hopetoun street
    Nov-15 4,835
    Dec-15 3,911
    Jan-16 4,046
    Feb-16 5,008
    Mar-16 5,407
    Apr-16 4,706
    May-16 4,654
    Jun-16 3,978
    Jul-16 3,890
    Aug-16 4,225
    Sep-16 3,990
    Oct-16 4,176
    Nov-16 3,817
    Dec-16 3,918
    Jan-17 3,628
    Feb-17 4,688
    Mar-17 5,435
    Apr-17 3,927
    May-17 4,781
    Jun-17 4,133
    Jul-17 3,451
    Aug-17 4,167
    Sep-17 4,029
    Oct-17 4,087
    Nov-17 5,025
    Dec-17 4,330
    4,317

    7 years ago

    • avatar
      Thomas Lumley

      Yes, that’s the data I linked to. I prefer sources in a format that’s convenient for data analysis, but having it in other formats too is ok.

      7 years ago

  • avatar
    Durden Spring

    So what was the point of your post ? That weekday figures are different from weekend figures ? It does not take a genius to figure “commuters”. And how is it relevant, material ?

    Adding just a link demands the readers to do a lot of extra work. If you are posting to make a point you need to to make the post self contained and suitable for your reader. Especially the average reader who won’t be bothered to follow up.

    I reached your page through a link on Kiwiblog. I thought he listed good/useful ones. On this topic, I can’t see what it added to any discussion. So I am exiting this conversation. Have a great Easter weekend.

    7 years ago

    • avatar
      megan pledger

      I think Durden posted two days to early.

      But, yeah, Kiwiblog – “Fomenting Happy Mischief since 2003”.

      With that attitude every day must be like the 1rst April.

      7 years ago

  • avatar
    Steve Curtis

    Unlike others I welcome the chance to dive in deeper and find out more for myself.
    Interesting that Feb 18 trips were down 1.9% over Feb 17, but the previous 12 months were up 3.7%. Could that be the effect of a wetter Feb this year? Overall trip number decline in winter compared to summer.

    7 years ago