The city of Durango is looking for volunteers to help count cyclists and pedestrians at key intersections from Sept. 11 to 17.
The biennial counts help the city apply for grants to improve sidewalks, crosswalks and other infrastructure projects, Multimodal Coordinator Jennifer Hill said. The data collection is similar to vehicle traffic counts used to plan for streets and highways.
In 2009, the first year of the count, 5,089 people were counted at nine intersections. In 2015, 6,566 people were counted in 11 key spots.
In 2015, the city added the Eighth Avenue and Third Street intersection and the 12th Street and Camino del Rio crossing to its list of nine intersections, because non-motorized traffic has increased in those areas and the public is concerned about safety in those areas, Hill said.
Volunteers are needed to fill two-hour shifts, and everyone who participates will receive an appreciation gift, according to a news release.
To volunteer, visit the city’s website, www.durangogov.org, and search Durango bicycle and pedestrian count.
mshinn@durangoherald.com
