A Statewide Telephone Survey of Utah Residents’ Attitudes Toward Recreational Trails Bear River Planning District Results Institute for Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Utah State University

Governor’s Trails Initiative Statewide Telephone Survey Purpose To substantiate Utah residents’ opinions on: trails values and benefits awareness and use of trails perception of needs and preferences related to trails in Utah

Methodology  Utilized a random sample of household telephone numbers, stratified by the seven Planning Districts in the state.  In each Planning District, conducted a total of 370 telephone interviews, proportionately divided based on individual counties’ population percentage in the district.  Interviewed one adult in each household. Utah’s Planning Districts

STATEWIDEBEAR RIVER Statewide and Bear River Results Have you used any trails in Utah in the past 12 months?

STATEWIDEBEAR RIVER Are there other members of your household who have used trails in Utah in the past 12 months? YES NO

What kinds of activities do you participate in on trails? For 173 Trail Users in the Bear River Planning District: Hiking…………………………………64.7% Biking/Mountain Biking……………..18.5% ATV Driving………………………….17.3% Walking……………………………….13.3% Backpacking…………………...……..10.4% Horseback Riding………...……….….10.4% Motorcycle/Dirt Biking……….…...…10.4% Snowmobiling…………………...…… 7.5% Birdwatching/Wildlife Viewing… % OHV Driving……………………… % Jogging/Running…………...……… % Auto Touring………………………… 4.0% Cross Country Skiing…….…….……. 4.0%

Do you know if there is a trail within 15 minutes of your home or workplace? STATEWIDEBEAR RIVER YES NO YES NO Don’t Know

How long does it take you to get from your home to your favorite trail?

Would you like to use trails in Utah more than you did in the past 12 months? STATEWIDEBEAR RIVER NO YES NO

Main Reason Bear River Trail Users Did Not Use Trails As Much As They Would Have Liked Main Reasons (n) % Not enough time/Too busy with other activities % Personal health concerns/Age/Disability 9 6.3% None convenient/No trails close to home 6 5.6% Family/Little children 5 3.5% Not enough money 4 2.8% Too difficult to get to 3 2.1% Work 3 2.1% Closed to certain activities 3 2.1% Not enough information about trails 3 2.1% Not enough information about trails 2 2.1% Traveling out-of-state in the past 12 months 2 1.4% Other reasons % (Total n=144)

Main Reason Bear River Non-Users of Trails Did Not Use Trails As Much As They Would Have Liked Main Reasons (n) % Not enough time/Too busy with other activities % Personal health concerns/Age/Disability % Don’t know where trails are located 9 8.0% None convenient/No trails close to home 3 2.7% Family/Little children 3 2.7% Little or no interest/Do not care for outdoors 3 2.7% New to area 3 2.7% Don’t know 3 2.7% Other reasons 9 8.0% (Total n=113)

Main Reason Bear River Non-Users of Trails Do Not Want To Use Trails Main Reasons (n) % Personal health concerns/Age/Disability % Little or no interest/Do not care for outdoors % Not enough time/Too busy with other activities % Walk other places 3 3.5% Horses not allowed 1 1.2% New to area 1 1.2% Not enough money 1 1.2% Too crowded 1 1.2% Too difficult to get to 1 1.2% Too steep/Too strenuous 1 1.2% Other reasons 5 6.0% (Total n=84)

Would you support the use of additional public funds for motorized trails in Utah? STATEWIDEBEAR RIVER NO YES NO ? ?

Would you support the use of additional public funds for non-motorized trails in Utah? STATEWIDEBEAR RIVER NO YES NO ??

Would you support a tax increase if the additional money would be used to enhance your use and enjoyment of trails in Utah? STATEWIDEBEAR RIVER NO YES NO ????

STATEWIDEBEAR RIVER Having quality trails in Utah is important to me. (percentage strongly agreeing and agreeing)

STATEWIDEBEAR RIVER I personally receive little or no benefit from trails in Utah. (percentage strongly agreeing and agreeing)

STATEWIDEBEAR RIVER Having trails in my area results in economic benefits for local communities. (percentage strongly agreeing and agreeing)

STATEWIDEBEAR RIVER Preservation of historic trails in Utah is important to me. (percentage strongly agreeing and agreeing)

STATEWIDEBEAR RIVER Having trails in or near my community allows me to be physically active and lead a healthy lifestyle. (percentage strongly agreeing and agreeing)

STATEWIDEBEAR RIVER Having trails in or near my community does little for my quality of life. (percentage strongly agreeing and agreeing)

STATEWIDEBEAR RIVER Gender of Respondents

Age of Respondents in the Bear River Planning District Trail Users Average Age: 36.4 years Non-Users Average Age: 45.7 years

A Statewide Telephone Survey of Utah Residents’ Attitudes Toward Recreational Trails Steven W. Burr, Director Dale J. Blahna, Research Scientist Douglas Reiter, Research Associate Michael Butkus, Programs Administrator Institute for Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Utah State University 5220 Old Main Hill Logan, Utah (435)