Dartmouth, N.S., resident tracks how many people use bike lane near home

For the last two years, a Dartmouth, N.S., man has tracked bike traffic on his street.

As the Halifax Regional Municipality continues to expand its cycling network, a Dartmouth resident has spent the last two years documenting how many cyclists use a bike lane near his home.

Rick Gautreau uses a GoPro camera overlooking a Dartmouth street to record rush-hour traffic several times a year. The footage is converted into a time-lapse video, allowing him to count cyclists using the route during different seasons.

The project began after Gautreau heard a discussion about bike lanes on a local radio program in 2024.

“I thought maybe I can help by using my GoPro camera to record this particular street,” he said. “You can watch an hour and a half in seven minutes and count the bikes.”

Gautreau said footage he submitted to Halifax Regional Municipality’s clerk’s office is now part of the public record. He records the roadway during different seasons and says cyclist volumes fluctuate significantly throughout the year.

According to Gautreau, counts during peak cycling months can reach roughly 50 cyclists per rush hour, while winter numbers can drop substantially, particularly in poor weather.

The amateur data-collection effort comes amid continuing debate over cycling infrastructure in the municipality.

Gautreau is among residents who question whether some investments in bike lanes reflect actual usage levels. He argues municipalities could gather more accurate information by using cameras to record and review cyclist traffic at multiple locations throughout the year.

“If HRM really wanted accurate counts of where and when these bicycles are showing up, all they would have to do is use a couple of cameras and make the counts,” he said.

Not everyone views the infrastructure the same way.

Darryl, a Dartmouth cyclist who uses his bicycle as his primary mode of transportation, said dedicated cycling infrastructure has improved safety in some areas but remains challenging in others.

“I ride every day,” he said. “Last week I probably put two or three hundred kilometres on the bike.”

Darryl said some bike lane designs work well, while others can create difficulties for cyclists moving through intersections or navigating between routes.

“I think they got it right in some instances, but there’s a lot of them that are wrong too,” he said. “Some spots are almost more hazardous than they were before.”

Still, he said cycling infrastructure has made parts of his daily commute safer.

“Everybody deserves to use the road,” he said. “I’m happy that they are doing it because it makes it a little safer for me.”

The municipality has continued to add cycling infrastructure in recent years as part of efforts to encourage active transportation and improve safety for cyclists.

Gautreau says he plans to continue recording traffic from his Dartmouth home, adding to a collection of videos he hopes will contribute to the ongoing discussion about bike lanes.

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