Bicycle Network: Bike Futures Services

Super Tuesday -- A rider's point of view

As a regular and consistent measure of bike riding movements across the country, Super Tuesday provides councils with reliable and accurate figures about rider numbers and preferred movements through a municipality. This data strengthens the case for further investment in better bicycle facilities.

You can support the Super Tuesday Bike Count and help get better bicycle facilities by volunteering to count riders on Super Tuesday. You can also convert your participation in Super Tuesday into support for your favourite bike group, club or school.

The Step-by-Step Guide for Super Tuesday Counters

Step 1: Registration

• You will need to complete an online registration process to register as a Super Tuesday counter, to ensure that we have the necessary details to contact you and so that you can reserve your count location.
• The online registration is a two-step process: you will need to fill an out e-form and then click a link in a confirmation email. This second step will finalise your registration.
• The online registration form allows you to choose which available site you want to count at. A link in the registration form will take you to a web-based map where you will be able to click on a marker and ‘book’ the count site of your choice – so it’s first in best dressed!
• The registration form also allows you to nominate a BUG or club to receive your $50 donation. 
• We give our counters a t-shirt to inform people about the count. Work out which size you want by using the table of measurements (on page 3). You will need to tell us your T-shirt size when you register online. NOTE: sizes and quantities are limited, so register early to ensure you receive a t-shirt.
• Once you have registered, you will receive a confirmation email showing your personal details, your count site, t-shirt size, your access code / rider number (to enable you to enter data after the count) and the BUG or club you nominated to receive your $50 donation. 
• When you receive your confirmation email, it is really important that you click on the link to confirm that you're definitely in for the count.

Super Tuesday T-Shirt Half Chest Sizes*

 *Half Chest is a standard measure for clothing, and refers distance across the chest from side to side immediately below the armpit when the garment is laid flat.

Step 2: Before the Count

• Check the location of your count site on a street directory or on Google maps or Google Earth (see maps.google.com.au/).
• Study the intersection you will be counting – some are four-way, some are three-way – and determine which type your site is.
• You will receive a pdf count sheet that matches your intersection as an attachment to your confirmation email. This count sheet should match your intersection. If your count sheet does not match your count site, email us and we will send you a correct sheet. Please do not use any other template, including ones used in previous years.
• Check your count site against your map location and the description in your confirmation email, and enter the leg names on your count sheet (write them exactly as they appear in your confirmation email).
• You can check that you have the legs correctly labelled on your count sheet by looking at your map. Some count site locations will have new facilities/infrastructure that may not be mapped yet. Don’t panic – these sites may just need a bit more working out.
• Fill in each of the street or path names at your intersection (eg ‘William Street,’ ‘Collins Street') on the panels on the count sheet. You might want to print and label a spare count sheet too.
• The night before, get your Super Tuesday T-shirt out, ready to wear for the count. Prepare your count sheet for Super Tuesday – it’s a good idea to organise a clipboard and a spare pen.
• Check the lights on your bike if you are riding to the site as you may be riding before sunrise. Some counters recommend a lightweight fold up chair if you think you will be able to carry it.

Step 3: On Super Tuesday

• Please wear your orange Super Tuesday T-shirt on the count so we can raise public awareness of what we are doing. We aim to get media coverage about the ‘Orange Army’ on the day.
• Be in place and ready to count the first rider at 7.00am (6.30am for NT counters). We don’t want to miss anyone!
• Mark the count sheet and marvel at how many riders there are these days. We suggest using the block of five ‘gate method’ of four uprights slashed diagonally when the fifth rider goes past.
• It is very important that any off-road path that parallels a road in the same direction is counted as one and the same thing unless you are specifically directed to do otherwise.
• Stop counting at 9.00am (8.30am for NT counters) – don’t pump up the figures. We need to give councils accurate data. Analysis of data from adjacent count locations nearby will expose any inaccurate counting. Your organisation will not receive the $50 donation if your data is inaccurate.

Step 4: After the Count

• Go to the Super Tuesday Bike Count web page. The link for this page will be on the Super Tuesday 2013 web page. 
• The data entry section of this page will not go live until 9am on the day of the count.
• Enter your rider number and email. These were provided in the confirmation email. If you've lost that email, please use the "forgotten your rider number" link.
• Follow the instructions on the screen and enter your count data.
• If you are unable to complete this form online, please scan and email the count sheet back to us at Bicycle Network Victoria.
• If you are not really a computer person and you can’t get someone to help you, photocopy your count sheet and mail us one copy in the pre-paid return envelope.

If you have any further questions, please contact the Super Tuesday team by email through the Bicycle Network Victoria website, at /sendmessage/.

Thank you again for joining us in the largest Super Tuesday Count yet and helping to secure a better future for bike riders.