When i was doing RAYNET, several years ago now, I particularly enjoyed being involved in events such as the New Forest Marathon or the various 10KM runs. As part of my role at those events, I would be asked to count the number of runners that passed my post. In order to do that with any degree of accuracy, I bought one of those little mechanical gadget, a click counter I think you would call it, it only cost a couple of quid.
It’s been stuck in a box since the last time I used it. I dug it out at the beginning of this week. Why would I do that?
I’ve become a little bit more flexible about the timing of when I go for my almost daily walk. Each time I go for a walk, I can’t help wondering how many people I pass on the high street, put it another way; how busy is the street? That’s what I want to know; how many people there are.
So here comes the first problem for me; how do I count the people? the first criteria what do I mean by on the High Street?
The first criteria is that they have to be to the east of this piece of art, the Armillary Sundial. The image in the middle of the sundial depicts Henry De Blois, the Bishop of Winchester safely arriving in Gosport in 1144 (initially, and briefly “God’s Port”)
Next, they have to be to the west of these two guardians. They commemorate the Town Gates of Old Gosport. Beyond that people have to be on the pedestrianised area, not in an alleyway. These are my criteria – I made them up, and I’m sticking by them.
Then, do I count in both directions, or only one? What if I count going towards the ferry, and then count coming back – do I ignore people I remember seeing on the first pass?
My plan is over an undefined period of time, I plan to count the number of high street visitors during my walk at the different times of the day – one of my little projects. Don’t ask me why – I can’t tell you beyond I am just curious.
I’ve done a couple of test counts, the first time was Tuesday, I counted 47 people whilst heading for the ferry. This morning, I counted 37 heading east, and then returned counting 59 people – I think the second count was higher because it was a little bit later, more people heading for work.
I’ll obviously keep you updated on how I get on with this.
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