This image from the NYC Dept. of Transportation shows an example of data collected by a street activity sensor, with mapping of movement by pedestrians, cyclists and cars at an intersection.
Photo: NYC Dept. of Transportation
GREENPOINT AND CITYWIDE —NEW CUTTING-EDGE SENSORS are being installed at intersections around the city to inform transit authorities on how New Yorkers use their streets and to aid in safer street design,city Department of Transportation Commissioner Mike Flynn announced on Tuesday via press release.
The small, privacy-protective street activity sensors, which were first piloted in 2023, will count pedestrians, cyclists, buses and vehicles, and will assess traffic activity patterns. The DOT is scaling up the technology that, during the pilot, was initially installed at 20 locations. The sensors replaced traditional manual traffic counts with continuous, real-time data collection, to provide a more comprehensive picture of how pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles move through city streets. Sensors will be now installed at approximately 80 additional locations across the five boroughs to accelerate data-driven street safety improvements.
A NYC DOT Traffic Operations worker installing a new activity sensor in Greenpoint. Photo: NYC Dept. of Transportation
Mounted on DOT street infrastructure, the sensors anonymously capture and analyze street activity, and map how different users move. For example, the sensors’ ability to identify areas where pedestrians are crossing mid-block instead of at crosswalks could help determine where a new mid-block crosswalk might be beneficial.
The DOT will use the sensors to more effectively allocate street space among pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles.
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