Volunteers are needed to help with the annual statewide tally of bicycle riders and walkers.

Volunteer registration is now open for this year’s survey, which starts Tuesday, Sept. 25.

The survey, now in its 11th year, is conducted by volunteers working with the Washington State Department of Transportation and Cascade Bicycle Club. The state and bike club are joining with FeetFirst, Washington Bikes and Futurewise to help count the number of people bicycling and walking Tuesday, Sept. 25, through Thursday, Sept. 27.

State officials said about 400 people are needed for the count, which will be conducted on Bainbridge Island and nearly 60 other communities across the state.

For the 2017 tally, volunteers counted more than 63,500 people biking and walking in communities across Washington. In 2017, the number of people who walked, biked or used other active modes increased 4 percent over the 2016 count, when evaluating comparable sites, officials said.

“This volunteer effort makes sure that people who bike and walk are counted as essential users of the transportation system,” said WSDOT Active Transportation Division Director Barb Chamberlain.

“Each year that volunteers make the collection process possible, we get a more robust picture of the growth in active transportation,” she said.

Data collected during the count is used by state and local agencies to estimate demand; measure the benefit of bicycle and pedestrian project investments; and improve policies, project designs and funding opportunities.

The data also helps agencies understand how and where to address active transportation options for people who don’t have the income to choose other transportation alternatives, officials said.

The Washington count is part of the National Documentation Project, an annual bicycle and pedestrian count and survey effort sponsored by the Institute of Transportation Engineers Pedestrian and Bicycle Council.

To learn more, visit WSDOT’s website at www.wsdot.wa.gov, email Cascade Bicycle Club at meganc@cascadebicycleclub.org or call 425-243-3588.

To sign-up to volunteer, visit bikepedcount.wsdot.wa.gov.