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Trail use estimates

  • Economic Analysis of Outdoor Recreation in Washington State 2020 Update

    Megan Lawson, Ph.D.

    This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the economic impact of outdoor recreation in Washington State. The report includes estimates on spending, jobs, income, impact on GDP, consumer surplus, and environmental benefits of outdoor recreation. In 2019, outdoor recreation in Washington contributed $26.5 billion in spending and supported 264,000 jobs, compared to $21.5 billion and… Read more

  • Economic Impact Analysis of The Proposed Pike2Bike Trail

    Megan Lawson, Ph.D.

    This study estimates the economic impact of the proposed 8.5-mile Pike2Bike trail. More than 80% of Fulton and Bedford County residents expressed support for the proposed Pike2Bike trail and 32% of current and potential business owners indicated they may invest in a new business to support the trail if it were developed. Using surveys, IMPLAN,… Read more

  • The Economic Value of Trails in Arizona: A Travel Cost Method Study

    Megan Lawson, Ph.D.

    This study estimates the value Arizona residents derive from visiting motorized and non-motorized trails. The authors also estimated total annual trail use, Arizonans’ perceptions of trails, and favorite and most frequented trails. The value for Arizona residents from non-motorized trail use is around $8.3 billion per year; the value from motorized trail use is about… Read more

  • Regional Community Entrepreneurship through Tourism: The Case of Victoria’s Rail Trails

    Megan Lawson, Ph.D.

    This study summarizes the spending patterns and travel characteristics of respondents cycling on the Murray to the Mountains trail in Australia. A comparison of results to the author’s previous 2003 study on the same trail found that the overall economic contribution per person per trip grew from AUS$203 in 2003 to AUS$483 in 2006, not… Read more

  • Economic Impact of the Proposed Run of River Whitewater Park in Skowhegan Maine

    Megan Lawson, Ph.D.

    The study estimates the impact of the proposed Run of River Whitewater Park in Skowhegan, Maine. The park would include infrastructure to support water sports and additional trails to encourage hiking, walking, and cross-country skiing. Run of River was estimated to generate a direct economic impact of nearly $6 million in spending in its first… Read more

  • The Knoxville Urban Wilderness Trail System and Baker Creek Preserve Bike Park: A Profile of Users and Physical Activity

    Megan Lawson, Ph.D.

    This study is listed as the first in a series of Knoxville Urban Wilderness (KUW) health and economic impact reports. This paper details the number of KUW users during 2021. Findings include that the users of the KUW trail system are predominately white, adult males, and that mountain biking, running, and walking are the most… Read more

  • Economic Impact of Non-Commercial Paddling and Preliminary Economic Impact Estimates of Commercial Paddling in the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests

    Megan Lawson, Ph.D.

    This study conducts an economic impact analysis of paddling expenditures for both noncommercial and commercial paddlers on rivers in the Nantahala and Pisgah national forests in North Carolina. Results indicated that noncommercial paddler visitors spend an estimated $3.2 million annually across seven rivers. Read more

  • The Economic Impact of the Proposed Chattahoochee Valley Blueway Project

    Megan Lawson, Ph.D.

    This study estimated the economic impacts of the proposed Chattahoochee Valley Blueway paddling trail that flows through parts of Georgia and Alabama. Using an online survey, the author estimated expenditures and potential visitors over four years, assuming marketing will increase the customer base to include counties within a two-hour drive after two years, counties within… Read more

  • Analyzing the Impact of the Firefly Trail on Economic Development in Northeast Georgia

    Megan Lawson, Ph.D.

    This study details the expected economic impact of the proposed Firefly Trail in Georgia. The report estimated that the construction of the trail will lead to a one-time increase in total economic output by $32 million, create an additional 158 jobs, and will increase household incomes by $6.9 million at the county level. Read more

  • Diversifying Rural Economies with Natural Resources: The Difference between Local and Regional OHV Trail Destinations

    Megan Lawson, Ph.D.

    This article focuses on the desirable and undesirable characteristics of off-highway-vehicle (OHV) trails from users’ perspectives as well as trail system characteristics that best suit local or regional OHV destinations. The authors found that the main concern of trail users in the local OHV trail system is trail mileage; their results suggest a minimum of… Read more

  • Financing Recreational Trails Through Donations: Testing Behavioural Theory in Mountain Biking Context

    Megan Lawson, Ph.D.

    In Rörbäcksnäs, Sweden, researchers found that social information such as collective action and descriptive norms in signage posted on the main mountain biking trailhead encouraged higher donation amounts and participation rates from mountain bikers. Descriptive norms included listing the donation amount from mountain bikers in recent weeks on the signage. Through the survey, researchers found… Read more

  • Mountain bike tourism economic impacts: A critical analysis of academic and practitioner studies

    Megan Lawson, Ph.D.

    The authors reviewed 33 academic and practitioner studies on mountain bike tourism and found inconsistencies in the methodology for measuring economic impacts. They critique the existing literature and make recommendations to improve variable instruments and analysis. The authors claim more coherent and consistent variables analyses will better support community advocates in their push for the… Read more

  • Characteristics and Behavior of Tourists Who Visited the George S. Mickelson Trail During the 2005 Peak Season

    Megan Lawson, Ph.D.

    The George S. Mickelson Trail (GSMT) is a multipurpose recreational trail that spans 114 miles across South Dakota beginning in the Black Hills. Researchers compiled survey data from 2,388 trail users who resided outside of the Black Hills Region. They analyzed the perceptions and use patterns of tourism activity on the GSMT and found that… Read more

  • The Economic Impact of Outdoor Recreation and the Whitefish Trail in Whitefish, Montana

    Megan Lawson, Ph.D.

    In Whitefish, Montana, outdoor recreation is the most important reason why residents stay and visitors come to the community. On the Whitefish Trail, 22,000 annual uses by visitors (30% of total use) generates $3.6 million in spending and supports 68 jobs. Read more

  • Trail Usage and Value: A Helena, MT Case Study

    Megan Lawson, Ph.D.

    In Helena, Montana, an 80-mile hiking and mountain biking trail system attracts more than 63,000 trail users during the summer. Seven in 10 users are residents, but visitors who use the trail system account for $4 million in spending, support 60 jobs, and generate $185,000 in state and local taxes. Read more

  • Silver Comet Trail Economic Impact Analysis and Planning Study

    Megan Lawson, Ph.D.

    West of Atlanta, Georgia, the Silver Comet Trail plans to double its 61 miles. This is expected to bring more than 500,000 new tourist visits and $30 million in new spending to the area, while also generating substantial new tax revenues for the state through taxes on sales, income, and newly developed residential properties near… Read more

  • Association Between User-Generated Commuting Data and Population-Representative Active Commuting Surveillance Data—Four Cities, 2014-2015

    Megan Lawson, Ph.D.

    One of the primary concerns about data from GPS tracking apps is that the users tend to be more frequent recreators or commuters and therefore do not accurately represent the actual population. This paper shows that there is a strong correlation between the reported share of people in a neighborhood commuting by active transportation between… Read more

  • Estimating Tourism Expenditures for the Burlington Waterfront Path and the Island Line Trail

    Megan Lawson, Ph.D.

    In Burlington, Vermont, a lakefront trail is visited mostly by locals, who use it for both recreation and transportation. Closest to downtown Burlington, non-locals use the trail as much as locals and non-local day trips account for the greatest spending in the community. Read more

  • D&L Trail 2012 User Survey and Economic Impact Analysis

    Megan Lawson, Ph.D.

    In eastern Pennsylvania, the D&L Trail receives approximately 283,000 visits annually, nearly half of whom report using the trail at least once a week. Although the economic impact estimates likely are significantly overstated, the trail’s effect on nearby residents’ health is a substantial, valuable asset. Read more

  • Oregon Snowmobiler Participation and Priorities

    Megan Lawson, Ph.D.

    Across Oregon, snowmobilers account for approximately 353,000 user days per year and $15 million in spending associated with snowmobile trips. Respondents are most concerned about the availability of backcountry, off-trail riding opportunities and sustaining access to existing riding areas. Read more

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