What do Residents Want to Make a Better Neighborhood Trail?

Stephen Miller (RTC) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 18:33:00 GMT

In May, RTC's Florida State Director Ken Bryan ran a helmet giveaway sponsored by The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida at an event hosted by the MaliVali Washington Kids Foundation along the S-Line Urban Greenway in Jacksonville. In order for youth to receive a helmet, an accompanying adult had to fill out a one-page questionnaire about their family's current level of trail use and desired improvements to the trail. Some highlights from the survey results:

More than 65 percent of respondents reside in the Springfield and Durkeeville neighborhoods, which are adjacent to the S-Line Urban Greenway.
About one-third of respondents reported that either they or the youth currently use the trail, of which 40 percent reported weekly use.
71 percent of respondents reported that their walking or bicycling would increase if better conditions existed. Suggestions for improved conditions included more sidewalks, bike routes, and trails. A few respondents also cited personal improvements, like helmets and new bicycles.
More than one-third of the respondents offered their preferences for trail amenities. The most popular: shade structures and benches, fitness equipment, space for community gardening, and more lighting.
More than 80 percent of respondents expressed interest in the promotion of a Walk/Bike to School Day at local schools; almost half thought that training for safe walking and/or bicycling would be helpful.

A complete tally of the survey results and a copy of the survey itself can be found in our Library.

Photo: A parent fills out a survey along the S-Line Urban Greenway in Jacksonville, Fla. Photo by Ken Bryan/Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.

RTC TrailBlog : s-line

What do Residents Want to Make a Better Neighborhood Trail?