Bicycle Network Victoria: Bike Futures Services
1 Super Sunday Recreation Count
Super Sunday, Super Tuesday's little sibling, is Australia's newest bike count tool, offering visual counts and qualitative surveys on recreational bike paths and shared trails.
For comparison's sake...
13 February 2012. Participating Councils and agencies are absorbing the data generated from version two of the Super Sunday recreation count.
Given the growth of the count program in 2011 to span points across all major Metropolitan Trail Network Trails over the limited trial run in 2010, a handful of key intersections counted in both years offer helpful baseline comparisons.
Still not fully understood is the impact that weather has on the volume of recreational path users. 2010 was a mild and sunny day, while 2011 was hotter and muggier, with thunder threatening throughout. Anecdotal comments from riders and repeat counters alike suggested that numbers were down significantly on 2010. This suggests a high correlation between the expectations about the day's weather, and the inclination to get outside to recreate. Generally, because the weather forecast for the day was ominous, we see that use across most types of user and at most locations was down, irrespective of whether it actually rained at a particular site or not.
Increasing the understanding about the sensitivity between weather forecasts and a person's intent to go for a walk or ride will be an interesting point of study in future years.
Let's see what the data shows:
Station Pier (Bay Trail)
| 2010 | 2011 | |
| Walkers | 2135 | 1395 |
|
Riders |
597 | 698 |
| Dogs | 100 | 81 |
| Runners | 50 | 42 |
| Other | 47 | 16 |
A dramatic drop in foot traffic at Station Pier was partially offset by a rise in bike traffic
Gardiners Creek Bridge (Capital City/Main Yarra/Gardiners Creek Trails)
| 2010 | 2011 | |
| Walkers | 74 | 85 |
| Riders | 1034 | 842 |
| Dogs | 6 | 5 |
| Runners | 100 | 67 |
| Other | 2 | 2 |
Drops in bike traffic and runners, while walkers rose slightly. This site was commented on by counters as reflecting a "lower turnout" from 2010 due to weather.
Anderson Street Bridge, northside (Capital City/Main Yarra Trails)
| 2010 | 2011 | |
| Walkers | 444 | 405 |
| Riders | 805 | 714 |
| Dogs | 6 | 25 |
| Runners | 152 | 107 |
| Other | 0 | 13 |
Drops across all major user groups
Main Yarra Trail at Plenty River Trail
| 2010 | 2011 | |
| Walkers | 44 | 70 |
| Riders | 411 | 192 |
| Dogs | 6 | 25 |
| Runners | 20 | 9 |
| Other | 0 | 3 |
Significant drop in rider numbers. Weather in the outer east was considerably worse than some of the other sites closer to Port Phillip Bay, but this didn't deter the walkers or the dogs.
Afton Street Bridge (Maribyrnong River Trail)
| 2010 | 2011 | |
| Walkers | 581 | 553 |
|
Riders |
270 | 172 |
| Dogs | 78 | 75 |
| Runners | 94 | 88 |
| Other | 27 | 4 |
Small drops in most uses, with a drop of nearly 100 bike users
Trail count a success
21 November 2011. Early results of this year's count suggest strength in trail use across the board, despite the muggy an ominous weather on 6 November. While lots of sites were added and many changed from last year's pilot program, at a couple of sites that were replicated, the results are as follows:
At Station Pier in Port Melbourne 698 bike riders were counted during the four hours between 11am - 3pm, while in 2010 597 riders were out and about. This year, 1393 walkers were counted passing through this site which was a steep drop from 2010 when 2135 walkers were recorded.
At the start of the Gardiners Creek Trail at the junction with the Main Yarra/Capital City Trail 842 bikes were counted compared to 1034 in 2010, though comments from riders at the site noted a perceived drop-off from 'normal' conditions.
The data from across the Melbourne Trail Network is currently being analysed and will be available to participating Councils and Parks Victoria early in the New Year.
6 November 2011. Were you out on Melbourne's trails and paths today for Super Sunday?
Tell us what you think of the off-road network and you could win an iPad.
Click here to take our survey about Melbourne's trails and paths.
3 November 2011. Super Sunday 2011 is this weekend. If you haven't had a chance to book a site to count yet, don't worry! There are a handful of sites still available for you to count. Doing so will help improve the world of bike riding and gives you a chance to raise money for your club.
Click on the link above to register.
There are some sites left along the Western Ring Road path, Eastlink, and the Lilydale - Warburton Trail, as well as individual ones elsewhere. Green means four hours available, yellow means two hours. More information is available on the registration page.
Be Counted
Additionally, there will be a number of 'qualitative' sites across the city on Sunday. If you come across one make sure you pick up a PowerAde and some information about filling out our survey about path and trail use - finish the survey and you could win an iPad
Fill out the Super Sunday survey here
Enter your Super Sunday Count Data Here
Register Here for Super Sunday Recreation Count 2011
About Super Sunday
What is Super Sunday?
Benefits for Local Government
A growing number of local governments around Australia are using the Super Sunday counts to guide their bike riding investments and programs on the off-road network.
Benefits for Supporter Organisations and Riders
Many organisations support Super Sunday by recruiting counters for this annual event - the newest way to capture off-road usuage.
Contact Us
Contact the Super Sunday Management Team.
Information for Counters
Learn more about registering as a volunteer Counter for Super Sunday and read the Step-by Step Guide so you can complete a successful count.
Results from Previous Years
The information provides a snapshot of the findings recorded from the first Super Sunday Recreation Count.
Super Sunday 2011
The second Super Sunday Recreation Count is on Sunday 6 November, from 11am-3pm.
Super Sunday Recreation Survey
You'll find the link to the qualitative survey conducted in conjunction with Super Sunday 2011 here