Demand for Trails and Routes - Tourism and Trails: Cultural, Ecological and Management Issues - page 117

route-based travel (Cope et al. , 1998). Other studies have shown that toilet
facilities and drinking fountains along the way would help make a more
pleasant footpath experience (Nelson et al. , 2002).
Limited access is highly valued by many tourist and recreational users for
its assurance of privacy. Crowded trail conditions are one of the foremost
concerns among current and potential users (Downward & Lumsdon, 2001;
Hearne & Salinas, 2002). Much of this concern derives from multi-use trails,
where hikers encounter mountain bikers or equestrians and vice versa. There
is a tendency for single-purpose trails to be more acceptable in the public eye
and provide better visitor outcomes than multi-purpose trails (Lieber &
Fesenmaier, 1984). A common complaint among wilderness hikers is the
intrusion of mountain bikes, which 'make the countryside too much like the
town' (Ruff & Mellors, 1993: 104).
While the path itself is the primary focus of most trail studies and is the
main raison d'être of route-based recreation and tourism, the environmental
setting in which trails are located often determines the motives for under-
taking an outing and can affect the outcomes of the trip. Gorgeous scenery
can be the highlight of a trip (Axelsson-Lindgren & Sorte, 1987; Eby &
Molnar, 2002), while forest fire-scarred landscapes may be a low point
(Hesseln et al. , 2004). Kent's (1993) study sought to understand the charac-
teristics of routes that influence people to take scenic drives. Natural beauty,
characteristic landscape features, scenic variety, historic and cultural
features, rural character, road type (e.g. paved or gravel), route length and
nearness to cities inspire people to want to take a scenic drive and guide
their selection process (Kent, 1993). Table 4.12 outlines the most important
attributes that contribute to the pleasure of driving a scenic route.
For the most part, the most influential qualities are natural elements,
followed by historic sites and rural landscapes. There was an apparent dis-
pleasure with commercial businesses, multi-family housing and signs and bill-
boards. These were seen as too distracting and inharmonious with the
natural and cultural qualities of the trail. Kent (1993) also surveyed the
reasons people enjoyed a scenic route (Table 4.13). Again the natural and
rural landscapes featured most prominently and contributed to a sense of
excitement, relaxation, and a chance to clear one's mind.
Personal motivations
While there are many inherent characteristics that make a pathway
enjoyable, research has also highlighted a number of motivations that cause
people to use them. A study by Bichis-Lupas and Moisey (2001) identified
four types of people who utilize the Katy Trail in Missouri based upon a
benefits segment approach. These types reflect a wide range of motivations
associated with people using this well-known rail-trail. Fitness seekers,
mostly males, were only interested in exercise and the health benefits of the