The absolute direct differential and integral electron excitation cross sections for the forbidden N I 4S0→2D (&lgr;5200 ¿) transition have been measured at incident energies from 5 to 30 eV. The differential cross section (DCS) was found to be peaked in the backward direction at 30 eV but isotropic at the lowest energies measured. The DCS measured versus scattering angle was integrated to give the integral cross section (ICS) at each incident energy. The maximum value of the ICS was 96¿49%¿10-18 cm2 at 7--8 eV. Comparisons with several theoretical calculations of the ICS showed excellent agreement in absolute magnitude with the experimental results. However, the peak of the experimental ICS was at 7--8 eV, while the peak in the calculations was approximately 2.5 eV lower in energy. The experimental confirmation of the large peak value of the ICS for this multiply forbidden transition suggests that direct excitation of nitrogen atoms by electron impact may be the a significant source of 5200-¿ emission in dayside cusp precipitation events. ¿ American Geophysical Union 1996