2020 Boston Bike Counts
Learn about highlights from the bicycle count data we collected in 2020.
Every year, we count the number of people riding bicycles at specific locations across the City. By 2030, our goal is to increase the number of people biking fourfold. Counting helps us measure our progress.
New! March and December counts
In 2020, we collected bicycle count data in all four seasons for the first time. We collected counts over two days in March, in June, in September, and in December. By doing so, we can begin to understand how biking volumes change in different times of the year, during different weather conditions, and under changed travel patterns.
COVID-19 Pandemic
2020 was different from previous years. In early March, emergency measures were announced in response to the COVID-19 outbreak in Massachusetts. As a result, many people changed their travel patterns.
Our spring bike counts were taken on March 17 and 18. Some of the COVID-19 emergency measures were announced just days beforehand. On March 10, Governor Baker declared a state of emergency in Massachusetts . Significant physical distancing measures were announced between March 10 and 17. The statewide stay-at-home order was issued on March 23 , the week after our counts. As a result, fewer people were traveling by the time we collected bike counts. Both bicycle and vehicle volumes were lower than previous years.
Looking at 2020
At 18 locations , we collected data all four seasons. In this section, we highlight some patterns we found looking at these 18 locations during 2020. View a list of these locations.
We counted at these 18 locations over two days in March, June, September, and December 2020. They represent key biking corridors with different types of land uses and bike facilities. You can find detailed information about each season in the "March 2020", "June 2020", "September 2020", and "December 2020" sections.
How 2020 Was Different
Travel behavior changed significantly in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions. We can learn some things about how bicycling changed in Boston by comparing our data from 2020 with previous years.
In this section, we examine 23 locations where we have data for June and September count cycles going back to 2016. View a list of these locations .
Spring bloom in the Arnold Arboretum
March 2020
Tuesday, March 17, 2020 - Wednesday, March 18, 2020
We collected data at 21 locations for 48 hours on March 17, 2020 to March 18, 2020. March 17 was a cloudy day with a light drizzle, a high of 44° and a low of 31°. March 18 was fair and mostly cloudy, with a high of 49° and low of 37°.
June 2020
Tuesday, June 9, 2020 - Wednesday, June 10, 2020
We collected data at 31 locations for 48 hours on June 9, 2020 to June 10, 2020. June 9 was a cloudy day with a high of 80° and a low of 60°. June 10 was mostly cloudy, with a high of 65° and low of 58°.
Protected bike lanes were installed along Boston Common in Fall 2020.
September 2020
Wednesday, September 23, 2020 - Thursday, September 24, 2020
We collected data at 66 locations for 48 hours on September 23, 2020 to September 24, 2020. September 23 was fair and partly cloudy with a high of 79° and a low of 55°. September 24 was mostly cloudy, with a high of 79° and low of 61°.
December 2020
Tuesday, December 8, 2020 - Wednesday, December 9, 2020
We collected data at locations for 48 hours on Tuesday, December 8, 2020 to Wednesday, December 9, 2020. Both days were cloudy. December 8 had a high of 31° and a low of 26°. December 8 had a high of 36° and low of 24°.
This was the first time we counted bikes in the winter.