On the urban planning news website Planetizen, Diana DeRubertis recently noted
that trails in her neighborhood weren't getting enough use because they seemed isolated,
and as a result, unsafe for users on the trail alone. Despite the reality that
trails are no more dangerous than their surrounding areas, this misperception is
a serious issue that discourages trail use. First, the hard numbers: In Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's survey of crime on
rail-trails, results show that the real issue is one of perceived rather
than actual danger. Of 372 trails surveyed, only three percent reported major
crimes such as mugging, assault, rape and murder. Other
studies of crime along trails have shown the same result: trails are simply
not dangerous places. In fact, rail-trails often clean up formerly derelict
areas that had hosted criminal activity, as Charles R. Tennant, former chief of
police in Elizabeth Township, Pa.,
has discovered. "We have found that the trail
brings in so many people," he said, "that it has actually led to a decrease in
problems we formerly encountered such as underage drinking along the river
banks."
Despite
these facts, the perception of danger remains and many potential users are dissuaded
from getting out on the trail. Yet with proper design and programming, trail
managers can ensure their trail is a safe, appealing community resource.
Smart
design is paramount to making users feel secure. In addition to lighting the path,
trail managers need to work with local emergency services to create a locator
system similar to those in Dallas, Texas, and San Jose, Calif., so trail users calling 911 can relay their location
to the dispatcher. In addition, new construction along the trail should face the
path instead of ignoring it. Turning the trail into an inviting neighborhood
front porch is more effective for improving safety than treating it as a back
alley.
Similarly,
a trail cannot be ignored once it is built. First, you must overcome the
perception that trails are unwatched areas. Part of the challenge is the
location of some trails. Continuous paths suitable for trails are often found along
long-ignored waterfront or rail corridors, and many trails - even in busy urban
neighborhoods - are located in areas that have not traditionally hosted many
people. But along seemingly hidden trails, you can turn residents into regular
trail users by engaging communities along the corridor with meaningful
programming.
Sometimes
that includes volunteer
patrols or programming
with local police. But more often, programming serves to encourage area
residents to use the trail. Recently, we hosted a grand-opening
celebration for the Metropolitan Branch Trail in Washington, D.C.
Nearly half of those who filled out surveys at the event hadn't used the trail
before. The event introduced a new set of potential users to the trail and made
them more likely to use it again. The "safety in numbers" phenomenon applies to
trails, as well. With more trail users, there are more eyes on the trail and
fewer opportunities for criminals to attack. With proper design and
programming, trails become cherished places that attract more and more users - so
many users, in fact, that overcrowding
can become an issue. With bicycling and walking on the rise nationwide, increased
demand for trails is something we should all be working to address.
Photo: An officer patrols the Metropolitan Branch Trail in Washington, D.C. by M.V. Jantzen/Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.
