Tourism, Recreation and Trail Impacts - Tourism and Trails: Cultural, Ecological and Management Issues - page 149

Although this chapter does not directly address the management of
impacts associated with trails, by plotting awareness over annoyance
and identifying cases where annoyance exceeded 25%, managers can
institute specific noise management strategies for specific trails, or sec-
tions of trails. Cessford (2000) talked of managed separation (move
those affected away from the activities that create the noise), reduced
noise effect at sites, and improved visitor expectations by inform-
ing them of anticipated noises and level of noise at different sites
and times.
The third condition is brought on when trail users misbehave or when
some users perceive others to misbehave. For the most part, trails, footpaths,
and other routes have rules of etiquette, such as yielding to others, leaving
no trace, avoiding shortcuts, closing gates, controlling bicycles or horses, and
not spooking animals. Following the rules is very important in producing
satisfying experiences for everyone (Hendricks et al. , 2001; Hornby & Sheate,
2001; Schuett, 1997).
Hikers have a tendency to feel more animosity toward mountain bikers
than bikers do toward hikers (Chavez, 1997), and research shows the same
in the winter context with skiers harboring negative feelings toward snow-
boarders and snowmobilers (Thapa & Graefe, 2003; Vail & Heldt, 2004).
This is a result of hikers and skiers perceiving bikers and snowboarders to be
rule breakers, loud, risky and otherwise inconsiderate users (Carothers et al. ,
2001; Thapa & Graefe, 2003). Likewise, people walking dogs are sometimes
viewed unfavorably by other trail users because of concerns over dogs defe-
cating on the trail, running loose or causing accidents (Francis, 1992).
Table 5.7 reports the findings of a study by Carothers et al. (2001) on bad
behavior and suggests that there was overall less incompatible behavior
among hikers than there was among mountain bikers. Hikers claimed to
witness far less unscrupulous behavior by other hikers than they did by
mountain bikers. Interestingly, however, bikers claimed to observe worse
behavior among other cyclists than they did among hikers.
The fourth condition occurs when trail consumers perceive the negative
physical deterioration of trails and their surrounds. Use impacts have consid-
erable negative effects on recreationists' experiences and cause a high degree
of consternation. These impacts include, but are not limited to, wear and
tear and things left behind by visitors, porters and guides, such as litter and
other solid waste (e.g. plastic bottles and bags, tin cans, glass and paper),
excrement, fire remnants, damaged vegetation, and vandalism to bedrock
and heritage structures (Kuniyal, 2005; McQuaid-Cook, 1978). However, in
some places, trails are damaged as much by lodges, hotels and food service