Demand for Trails and Routes - Tourism and Trails: Cultural, Ecological and Management Issues - page 122

are not inherent in individuals or their interpersonal ties. Lack of money,
inaccessible locations for people with physical disabilities and inclement
weather are examples of structural constraints. Limitations on path and trail
use can also be seen from these perspectives (Ravenscroft, 2004; Ravenscroft
& Rogers, 2003).
Intrapersonal constraints
Perceptions of crowdedness are a common intrapersonal constraint.
While people are willing to withstand crowded conditions on urban streets,
it appears they are less tolerant of crowding on trails and paths. Perceived
congestion has been noted in several studies as a salient barrier to participa-
tion in a variety of contexts. One of the biggest complaints among trail walk-
ers and runners is the additional congestion caused by bicyclists and skaters.
An abundance of walkers and runners seems to be more tolerated than
wheeled users, who are perceived to get in the way more often and are less
considerate of others (Troped et al. , 2005).
While there might be real safety concerns on some wilderness trails
(e.g. wild animals, poisonous plants) or in urban areas (e.g. high crime, busy
streets), most safety concerns when it comes to trails are perceptual. As
already noted, crowdedness can prevent some people from using paths, but
it can also become a security concern when too many people are on the trail
or when mixed-use trails become too busy with wheeled traffic (Troped
et al. , 2001). Concerns also mount when a track or path requires travelers to
cross busy streets or highways or when it passes through a dark and secluded
part of town where dubious activities might take place.
Aside from long-term disabilities, a lack of physical fitness is a significant
intrapersonal barrier for some people traveling by foot, horseback or bicycle
on a long-distance route. Even if an individual has a desire to undertake a
long-distance journey, he or she might shy away from it if feelings of physical
inadequacy arise.
For many trail buffs, a primary purpose of an activity might be to learn
something new about history, ecology or culture. One of the main aims of
interpretive trails, ecotrails and cultural routes is to educate visitors about the
issues and items of prominence on the trail. In common with other interpre-
tive and educational situations, such as at museums, to many people the
educational element is not their forte; their lack of educational preparation
keeps them away (Timothy, 2011a). Evidence suggests that individuals who
were conditioned as children to visit museums, heritage places and natural
areas and learn from their experiences are more likely to continue this trend
into adulthood (Krakover & Cohen, 2001).
Many people simply lack an interest in the outdoors, nature, water
resources or cultural heritage. To them, cultural routes and nature trails are
essentially unappealing. This lack of desire might be compounded by the