Overview
The volume of bicycle traffic is definitely increasing in Budapest in the past 20 years. Data on bicycle traffic re available since 1994. Currently a three round clock equipment performs counts, providing 24 hours' data series on bicycle traffic.
The Centre for Budapest Transport has organised a bicycle traffic census in 2014. It was carried out at 31 sites in April and September and at 10 sites even in August. Using the results of the above mentioned census as well as all former measurements, a detailed analysis has been worked out, concerning the connection between traffic and safety data of bicycle traffic in Budapest.
Results
The bicycle traffic continues to grow in the inner parts of the city (tenfold since 1994), in the outer districts - we can see a smaller growth.
- According to measuring through constant stations at the Museum Boulevard, the growth of bicycle traffic has slowed, but it seems still to perpetuate the volume. When the bike-friendly measures are implemented in a region, it is needed to monitor the data about an impact of these measures in following years.
- There is a constant need to expand the network of measuring stations and multiplying a set of indicators. Data gathered through the measuring equipment must be checked manually.
- The bicycle traffic growth trend and the trend of accidents involving cyclists are separated from each other, traffic increases more than the number of accidents.
- The relationship between cycling and the weather is detected: by adverse weather fewer cyclists were detected, but over the years more and more people cycle under the adverse weather conditions.
- In those places where there are designated bicycle traffic facilities, the vast majority of cyclists use them. Where there are no bicycle traffic facilities, there is a high proportion of cyclists which use sidewalks (Grand Boulevard and Chain Bridge). It could be caused by the fact that the roads are not considered as suitable for cycling (i.e. bottlenecks and a relative high number of vehicles, vehicle speed).
- At several places the volume of bicycle transport is equal to or greater than 10% of the total vehicle traffic volume, regardless of the existence of bicycle transport facilities (eg. Andrássy út, Szabadság híd, Lánc híd).
Policy objectives
The measuring of the cycling transport volumes in Budapest sets a base for implementing measures supporting the use of bicycles in the city. Therefore, it supports the policy on development of cycling.