30,000 laps of Lebanon Hills

[TrailDale]

In September of 2002, MORC installed a secret infrared body counter on a singletrack section of the MTB trail (borrowed the counter from the County). In one week, over 1,400 riders passed by. Extrapolating that to the summer riding season yields an estimated 30,000 laps in a typical riding season!!

Thanks to all who volunteered to build an maintain these trails. They are holding up very well, given the heavy use.

TrailDale

[jjrsds]

I was wondering if the infared counter was just counting the number of times that something crossed the beams? How was the data collected and analyzed? Where on the trail was it set up and how was it set up? Was the counter on the ground or higher vertically? Just curious. I am not disputing the numbers just wanted to see how it was done.

JJ

[TrailPatrol]

I was just curious how many deer, rabbits, squirrels, escaping tigers from the zoo, etc. may have also been doing laps out there? I am not in any way denying Lebanon's popularity, but the figure does seem a bit high for so late in the season.

Ride safe,
Hans

[gopherhockey]

Believe me.. aside from me waving my hand in front of the counter 1,000 times, it is completely legit :crazy:

No - you can believe it, Lebanon gets some serious use!

I know where they had mounted the thing too - it had to be pretty accurate. It was too high for small animals, in a place where I seriously doubt many birds frequent (if that would have even triggered it). Even with a certain margin for error (as there is in any of these types of systems), the data still is impressive!

[Burke]

If the beam were catching the rider's arm, then body, would that get counted twice?

[gopherhockey]

Scott - you ride fast enough I doubt it would even count you.. :shocked:

[jjrsds]

The counter was triggered 1400 times in one week. So if I rode there twice that week and I did two laps per session how many riders am I? Would I be counted as 4 riders? If you divide 1400 by 4 you get 350 riders. I guess I am just trying to point out how easy information could help or hurt mtbs. This if taken out of context could enable somebody (like hikers) to think that Lebanon is being over used by bikers. Just some late night babble to ponder.

[gopherhockey]

I think they are actually interested in rider laps, not necessarily single riders. You are correct, however - this data can be twisted just about any way a person wants it too..

Actually I think the point is to show how many riders there were, not how few. It was to show Dakota how much traffic the trails are getting, yet how sustained they still are... AND how much we need more good singletrack :cool:

The best part is that Dakota is aware of hiker.. yes, hiker problems in our section of Lebanon. (hiking the bike only trails, closed trails etc.)