Work

Technologies for measuring bicycle traffic volume on cycle routes: a review of methods, capabilities and limitations

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The development of cycling transport in urban areas creates an increasing need for reliable data collection on the volume, direction and characteristics of cyclist movement. Data on the number of cyclists on cycle routes represent a fundamental input for planning new infrastructure, evaluating the use of existing routes, designing safety measures and optimizing traffic management. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of technologies used for bicycle traffic counting and bicycle traffic monitoring. Attention is focused on methods such as manual counting, video recording, computer vision systems, inductive loop detectors, pneumatic tube counters, infrared sensors, radar sensors, LiDAR sensors and crowdsourced mobile data. The individual methods are compared in terms of accuracy, costs, technical requirements, suitability for long-term operation, ability to classify users and applicability to different types of cycling infrastructure. The review shows that there is no universally most suitable technology. The choice of method must be based on the purpose of measurement, required accuracy, and the type of cycle route, monitoring duration, available budget and privacy requirements. The most promising direction is the combination of fixed automatic sensors, image-based or LiDAR-based systems, and supplementary mobile data.

Source: TECHNICAL SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGIES

DOI: 10.25140/2411-5363-2026-3(45)-318-332