Exploring Community Concerns about Trails & Greenways
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When a community first considers developing a multi-use trail or greenway, there are always questions and concerns on the minds of local residents. While trails are as commonplace as streets or sidewalks in many places, they are still a new feature in some neighborhoods. And, as always, change bring questions.
Fortunately, thousands of communities nationwide have built and maintained trails for decades. We can learn from their experience. We are going down a path that is already well-traveled by others. |
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Do Trails Attract Crime?
No. As you will see in our Public Safety Research Summary, national statistics and comments from law enforcement officials prove trails do not increase crime for users or for nearby property owners. Does this mean crime does not occur on or near trails? No, it doesn't. In any community, you have crime. Sadly, people are assaulted, robbed, burglarized, and sometimes killed in in our society. It happens in shopping center parking lots, in bars and restaurants, in fast food drive-throughs, at sports arenas, in churches, on highways, along city sidewalks, and even in homes. Because these locales are fixtures in the community, we would never blame the location for the crimes committed there. The same should hold true for trails.
Where Are You Safer?
For three years, from 2005 to 2007, an average of 150 pedestrians and 20 cyclists were killed each year on Georgia roadways. Had these deaths occurred on walking and biking paths, there would be a public uproar to shut down those facilities. By creating multi-use trails we are providing the walking and biking public with safer places to exercise, commute, or relax.
Which Makes a Better Neighbor?
Property owners near a proposed trail development sometimes fear the trail will bring crime to their doorstep. But, as evidenced in the studies we've summarized, trails generally help to reduce property crimes by increasing the flow of law-abiding citizens with watchful eyes. Which is a better haven for evil-doers? An abandoned, overgrown railroad littered with illegal dumping, seeing only occasional foot traffic and no police patrol? Or, a well-cleared, wide-open paved trail with regular traffic from walkers, joggers, cyclists, and others?
Can We Afford to Maintain It?
Certainly, trail maintenance is not free. Then again, when's the last time someone cried out about the cost to maintain a new local road or a widened highway? The reality is maintaining multi-use trails is far less costly than some may think. Sneakers and bicycle tires put a lot less wear and tear on pavement than do cars, over-sized pickups, and 18-wheelers. To assist local communities to plan for ongoing trail ownership, the Rails to Trails Conservancy surveyed managers of 100 trails in 2004 to get a perspective on the expense and how best to plan and organize for success. Rail-Trail Maintenance & Operation: Ensuring the Future of Your Trail contains many tips and insights we can use to build a responsible trail plan for Newton County. Some samples from the trail manager responses:
No. As you will see in our Public Safety Research Summary, national statistics and comments from law enforcement officials prove trails do not increase crime for users or for nearby property owners. Does this mean crime does not occur on or near trails? No, it doesn't. In any community, you have crime. Sadly, people are assaulted, robbed, burglarized, and sometimes killed in in our society. It happens in shopping center parking lots, in bars and restaurants, in fast food drive-throughs, at sports arenas, in churches, on highways, along city sidewalks, and even in homes. Because these locales are fixtures in the community, we would never blame the location for the crimes committed there. The same should hold true for trails.
Where Are You Safer?
For three years, from 2005 to 2007, an average of 150 pedestrians and 20 cyclists were killed each year on Georgia roadways. Had these deaths occurred on walking and biking paths, there would be a public uproar to shut down those facilities. By creating multi-use trails we are providing the walking and biking public with safer places to exercise, commute, or relax.
Which Makes a Better Neighbor?
Property owners near a proposed trail development sometimes fear the trail will bring crime to their doorstep. But, as evidenced in the studies we've summarized, trails generally help to reduce property crimes by increasing the flow of law-abiding citizens with watchful eyes. Which is a better haven for evil-doers? An abandoned, overgrown railroad littered with illegal dumping, seeing only occasional foot traffic and no police patrol? Or, a well-cleared, wide-open paved trail with regular traffic from walkers, joggers, cyclists, and others?
Can We Afford to Maintain It?
Certainly, trail maintenance is not free. Then again, when's the last time someone cried out about the cost to maintain a new local road or a widened highway? The reality is maintaining multi-use trails is far less costly than some may think. Sneakers and bicycle tires put a lot less wear and tear on pavement than do cars, over-sized pickups, and 18-wheelers. To assist local communities to plan for ongoing trail ownership, the Rails to Trails Conservancy surveyed managers of 100 trails in 2004 to get a perspective on the expense and how best to plan and organize for success. Rail-Trail Maintenance & Operation: Ensuring the Future of Your Trail contains many tips and insights we can use to build a responsible trail plan for Newton County. Some samples from the trail manager responses:
- The average annual cost per mile reported by trail managers for maintenance was $1,478.
- Indiana County, PA reported the following for the GHOST TOWN TRAIL, a 16-mile, packed limestone trail... "Current maintenance costs for this trail are approximately $18,000 per year or about $1,125 per mile per year. This cost includes labor, materials and supplies to maintain the trail and access areas."
- For the 6-mile Hoodlebug Trail constructed with asphalt millings, Indiana County reported the following... "Current maintenance costs for this trail are approximately $9,000 per year or about $1,500 per mile per year. This cost includes labor, materials and supplies to maintain the trail and
access areas. The annual maintenance cost for this trail is higher per mile than Ghost Town Trail
because much of the trail passes through neighborhoods and communities, unlike the Ghost
Town Trail which is located in a more rural setting. For this reason we do more frequent
mowings and general upkeep to keep the Hoodlebug Trail looking good." - Several trail managers also described public/private partnerships whereby local non-profit volunteers performed much of the routine trail maintenance at no public expense.
