Eco-Counters: Tracking Campus Bicycle and Pedestrian Activity

The MCORE Project required Champaign Urbana Urbanized Area Transportation Study (CUUATS) to monitor the bicycle and pedestrian activity at the major corridors improved following the completion of the project. CUUATS identified twelve locations to install Eco-Counters’ bicycle and pedestrian counter systems.

In March 2020, the first Eco-Counter pedestrian and bicycle counter was installed at the Illini Union location on Green Street. In summer 2021, the Eco-Counters for the intersections of Sixth Street and Armory Avenue and Wright Street and Healey Street were installed.

As of September 2024, 28 Eco-Counters stood at popular intersections on campus. These short orange posts, just off the pathway, use precise camera technologies to total up the number of people who pass by. That data can be accessed easily on the iCAP website here: https://icap.sustainability.illinois.edu/project/pedestrian-and-bicycle-counts.

With the recent expansion of the Campus Bicycle Master Plan, 23 more Eco-Counters were installed to further enhance tracking of bicycle and pedestrian activity across campus. Over the past decade, major strides have been made in improving biking infrastructure, including increasing bicycle parking to 14,000 spots and launching a campus bike share program. This latest addition helps the University gather valuable data to support future improvements and ensure a more bike-friendly campus for all.