Demand for Trails and Routes - Tourism and Trails: Cultural, Ecological and Management Issues - page 111

or driving routes of historic importance, undertake a pilgrimage, ride a his-
toric railway, pursue equestrian interests, or visit a park with self-contained
interpretive trails. The economic potential of these linear resources is high-
lighted later in the topic, but it is considerable, and many places have elected
to use trails as important, even iconic, marketing mechanisms to build des-
tination images and increase arrivals and expenditures.
Long-distance walking, hiking and cycling paths are important tourist
attractions. The National Trails in Britain exude a notable tourist appeal,
with annual users numbering in the millions of domestic and foreign tourists
(Cope et al. , 1998). According to a 2004-2005 study, approximately 12
million people use the National Trails network each year in England and
Wales (National Trails, 2013). Lumsdon's (1996, 2000) work illustrates how
important long-distance cycling networks can be for tourism development.
Not only are they important attractions that can draw people from near and
far, they provide more sustainable forms of tourist mobility than private
vehicles or public transportation can.
A third important use of trails is an alternative commuting route. Urban
and suburban paths are important commuter lines for people traveling to
work, school or to visit friends by foot or bicycle (Troped et al. , 2005; Wessell,
1997). Teenagers are especially inclined to use trails that connect nearby
small towns or urban neighborhoods because they lack driving licenses and
cars (Bowers, 2000). In the most bicycle-oriented countries, such as the
Netherlands, trails play an even more critical role in people's daily commutes
(de Vink, 1989).
Commuter trails are increasing in popularity for a variety of reasons.
First, they are seen as safer alternatives to busy roads and highways.
Rail-trails and other pathways help users avoid road congestion and careless
drivers by remaining outside the normal traffic flow (Watkins, 1984).
An interesting insight into the security element of trails is sometimes referred
to as the 'safewalk' (Lusk, 1995). Safewalks are inner-city greenways that
provide more secure paths to and from popular hang-out spots, such as
corner markets, malls, basketball courts and playgrounds. These are typically
purpose-designated paths that utilize greenbelts or sidewalks; they are well-
lighted and have a zero-tolerance policy toward drugs, violence and sex solici-
tation. They are meant to provide safe passages for children, the elderly or
youth. In many densely populated inner cities in North America, these sorts
of safe route programs are receiving more attention by planners and decision-
makers. Second, trails provide a less-expensive way of getting around the city
or the countryside (Watkins, 1984). Cycling, walking and roller-blading, or
skiing and snowshoeing during winter months, are efficient ways of travel-
ing from home to the store, school or office. In addition to the gasoline sav-
ings, trail commuting also saves money on parking, insurance, car
maintenance and bus and taxi fares. Third, trail commuting can in some
cases save more time than driving a personal vehicle. This is particularly the