Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 4.1
RVs are popular along scenic routes and byways
Higher levels of education and higher than normal socio-economic
status seem to be characteristic of most consumers (Bichis-Lupas & Moisey,
2001; Hammitt & Patterson, 1993; Troped
et al.
, 2001). This likely has to
do with the increasing health and environmental consciousness among
middle and upper classes in the Western world (Moisey & Bichis, 1999).
A higher-than-average environmental appreciation also tends to be more
prominent among recreational trail users (de Kok, 1991; Hall
et al.
, 1993),
with many having greener mindsets and memberships in environmental
groups (Furuseth & Altman, 1991).
Nearly all route and trail consumers travel with other people, with the
exception of daily commuters. The majority travel in small parties of two to
four people, which is especially true in backwoods and wilderness hiking
(Hammitt & Patterson, 1993). As already noted, the notion of sharing natu-
ral scenery with friends or loved ones, having someone to keep company
with, enjoying the outdoors, having spiritual experiences together, and the
safety in numbers element are important reasons for the social aspects of
backwoods track use.
Beyond, gender, age and education, there is limited research on trail
consumer characteristics such as ethnicity or even more contentious
demographic characteristics linked to health like body mass index. An excep-
tion is the work by Librett
et al.
(2006), who surveyed the use of community
trails and greenways by a sample of Americans drawn from a HealthStyles
database. It was the first study of adults across the US to compare trail users
and non-users. Trail users were the minority. Two-thirds reported not using
trails at all. Regularly active people were twice as likely to use a trail at least
once a week, as opposed to irregularly active or inactive people. Trail users
were predominantly white (71%), followed by Hispanic (12%) and African
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