Cycle counts have been undertaken alongside vehicle traffic counts since 1985. These show a small increase til the mid 1990s but a much bigger increase since then. Since 1998 the Council has been undertaking screen line counts along the North Circular Road and the River Lea.  The following 7am-7pm counts including 2006 show a major increase since 1998:

Counts at sites in Waltham Forest from 1998 to 2007
Location 1998 2002 2006 2007
North Circular Rd        
Hall Lane 69 92 98 74
Billet underpass 335 312 309 324
Wadham Road 85 92 212 221
Hale End Road 64 82 101 61
Woodford New Road 85 78 161 187
River Lea        
Sewardstone/Lee Valley Rd 76 61 243 262
Forest Rd/Blackhorse Road 183 399 376 417
Coppermill Lane/Springfield Marina (traffic-free route through Lee Valley) 198 181 431 444
Lea Bridge Road 395 652 634 677
Ruckholt Road 329 284 764 837

Total

 1819 2233 3329 3504

These most recent counts from 1998 – 2007 show an 93% increase over the 9 year period.

Therefore the Mayor’s target of increasing the number of bike trips by 80% between 2001 and 2010 seems very likely to be met.