Kävelyn ja pyöräilyn seuranta: Ohjeita mittariston kokoamiseen

Increased bicycle and pedestrian traffic is one of the objectives of the
national transport policy. One of the sub-objectives is to develop bi-
cycle and pedestrian traffic monitoring. This report includes a mo-
del for creating an indicator toolbox for bicycle and pedestrian traf-
fic monitoring to be implemented by municipalities. The report has
been compiled on the basis of examples in Finland and abroad, spe-
cialist reports and two workshops arranged during the project. A total
of 41 specialists from municipalities, the Finnish Transport Agency,
the ELY Centres, organisations representing urban regions, and con-
sulting firms participated in the workshops.
This report includes the most important available methods and indi-
cators, based on which the municipality can create its own set of in-
dicators for bicycle and pedestrian traffic monitoring. The indicators
have been categorized into: input, output, land use, travel chains, mo-
bility behaviour, traffic volumes, traffic and social safety, accessibility,
quality of the mobility environment, outlook and impact. The choice
of recommended comparative indicators has been based on the work-
shops and specialist advice. The municipalities should find it useful
to compare the data from these indicators.
Measuring and monitoring do not provide any absolute values, but
they are tools for coherent planning and development. The strategies
and the objectives to promote bicycle and pedestrian traffic should be
treated as part of the transport strategy of the municipality, which in
its turn is part of a greater whole. The implementation of the monito-
ring practice depends on the policy, the prevailing practice and plans
of the municipality.
Monitoring data increases the understanding of the specific charac-
teristics of bicycle and pedestrian traffic, which also makes it easier
to promote non-motorized traffic as well as justify and plan the de-
velopment measures to be taken. Without monitoring data it is im-
possible to set the objectives to promote bicycle and pedestrian traf-
fic. When the starting level is unknown, it is impossible to follow up
how the objectives have been achieved. Monitoring data can also be
used to compare different municipalities. The comparison between
municipalities is necessary in order to draw conclusions on the de-

velopment of the own municipality. Comparative data is also useful
for examining if the own objectives are set at an appropriate level.
Comparisons make it easier to identify and share experiences of suc-
cessful measures and to boost development. The greatest obstacle to
monitoring bicycle and pedestrian traffic is insufficient time and fiscal
resources. However, monitoring data is a helpful tool when making
decisions on how to allocate resources in a sensible way.
A comprehensive set of indicators combines several measuring
perspectives resulting in a monitoring model. When creating a set of
indicators, one should not only look into the traditional mobility indi-
cators, such as the division between modes of transport, but also use
well tried indicators. Already existing data on bicycle and pedestrian
traffic monitoring should be utilized before new research is initiated.
At its minimum, monitoring can simply mean pulling together alrea-
dy existing data. The limitations and characteristics of different met-
hods of data collection should be identified, for example regarding
generalisation of results.
The use of monitoring data varies according to the demands and ob-
jectives of the users. A comprehensive picture of bicycle and pedest-
rian traffic and the use of urban spaces can be gained by utilizing mo-
nitoring in an extensive and versatile way and by set