Annual bicycle counts are conducted to monitor the development of bicycle traffic on the cycle superhighways over time.

In addition to the bicycle counts conducted as part of the route evaluations in the pre-and post-assessments of a cycle superhighway, the Cycle Superhighway Collaboration continues to monitor the development of bicycle traffic on the route over time. This is done through annual bicycle counts in the years after the route is established.

The guidelines for the annual bicycle counts are as follows:

• The annual bicycle counts should be conducted at the same time each year (the first week of September). The counts always take place at the same time of year to ensure seasonal comparability as much as possible. The timing avoids summer/winter extremes in terms of sunlight/darkness and temperature, while also avoiding school holidays and public holidays.
• The counting stations should be placed in the same locations every year. The counting locations should be evenly distributed along the entire cycle superhighway route with at least one count in each municipality, typically with 3-4 km between each counting station.
• The counts are conducted using mechanical pressure tube counters (pneumatic tubes). The method is relatively inexpensive, easy to install, and works well for periodic counts – such as counts conducted for a week each year.
  

In the Cycle Superhighway Collaboration in the Capital Region, the facilitating Office for Cycle Superhighways coordinates and finances the annual counts.

In 2019, the Danish Road Directorate released a brochure titled “Bicycle Counts – Methods, Checklists, and Inspiration” about bicycle traffic counts, which is a valuable resource for planning and execution.

Another way to get an overview of the development in bicycle traffic is through fixed counting stations with continuous counts, such as using a bicycle counter.

These counters count continuously throughout all seasons in a year, so they can provide a more accurate picture of the development in the locations where they are installed. Through these data it is also possible to conduct further analysis, for instance by comparing the historical countings with historical weather data.

The counts from the bicycle counters on the cycle superhighways in the Capital Region can be found in Mastra.

To monitor the standard of cycle superhighways after construction, it’s also a good idea to regularly conduct route inspections. These inspections focus on the operational and maintenance standards and conditions of each route.

In the Cycle Superhighway Collaboration, route inspections are conducted on each route once every second year.