Impacts of Trails and Trail Use

This website has a comprehensive list of research material on the impacts of trails and their use.

Studies of the impacts of trails and greenways, surveys of outdoor recreation activities, and research on adjacent landowner concerns and property values.

http://www.americantrails.org/resources/adjacent/index.html

Economic Impact of Trails

Business on the trails, economic impact studies, economic benefits, trails and tourism, valuing trails, and other ways that outdoor recreation and greenways contribute to the economy and livability of communities

http://www.americantrails.org/resources/economics/index.html

This particular slide presentation does a nice job of summarizing the data (rail to trail) on several surveys concerning Crime, Property Values, Trail Opposition, & Liability Issues.

http://atfiles.org/files/pdf/CrimeOppLiability.pdf

Here are a couple articles on surveys related to Nebraska. The Omaha survey included the following conclusions.

Omaha Recreational Trails: Their Effect on Property Values and Public Safety, Study completed 2001 by Project Director Donald L. Greer, Ph.D., of the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Recreation and Leisure Studies Program.

• The Omaha recreational trails are used often by nearby residents. Over half (58.4%) of the responding used the trails daily or weekly.
• Omaha trails are generally perceived by nearby residents as an economic benefit. Almost two-thirds of those surveyed felt the trails would increase the selling price of their home.
• Property owners do not appear to have a widespread concern for their safety. Trespassing, theft and vandalism by trail users were relatively infrequent events.
• Very few residents in the sample had increased home security, considered moving or wanted the trail closed.
• Residents living along the trails appear to perceive there to be a positive relationship between the trails and neighborhood quality of life (75%).
• There are noticeable differences between trails (or neighborhoods) in residents' reaction to Omaha trails. All neighborhoods reacted positively to the trails, but the responses were higher among residents living near the West Papio Trail.

http://www.americantrails.org/resources/adjacent/OmahaStudy.html

http://www.americantrails.org/resources/adjacent/NebRuralTrStudy.html

Here’s an excerpt from one study that I found interesting.

In 1997 the Schenectady County Department of Planning surveyed property owners adjacent to the Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail. The goal was to look for better documentation of possible impacts of the trail on adjoining neighbors as well as the larger community. The trail sees about 350,000 trail user trips a year.

Survey questionnaires were mailed to all 315 residential property owners immediately adjacent to the off-street portions of the trail route. Responses totalled 215, or 68%, of the owners. Most homes are located between 100 and 200 feet from the trail. Use of the trail is 44% bicycling, 31% walking, 18% running, and 7% in-line skating.

Overall, landowners feel that the trail has no effect on, or has improved their ability to sell their homes. Similarly, most feel the trail has no effect on, or has actually increased the value of their property.

Overall, respondents also reported that living near the trail is somewhat better than they had expected it to be and the quality of their neighborhood was improved modestly. The benefits considered most important by landowners were safe opportunities for recreation, health, and fitness pursuits. In fact, 40% of adjoining households used the trail daily or frequently. Only 14% never use the trail.

Landowners also overwhelmingly reported that development and management of trails such as the Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail is a good use of public funds.

Info

Press Release published on February 23rd, 2009 at 9:59 am

Tags

biking trails,

economic impact,

greenways,

property values,

recreation,

tourism,

walking trails