A Statewide Telephone Survey of Utah Residents’ Attitudes Toward Recreational Trails Central 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

STATEWIDECENTRAL Statewide and Central Results Have you used any trails in Utah in the past 12 months?

STATEWIDECENTRAL 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 193 Trail Users in the Central Planning District: ATV Driving………………………….50.8% Hiking…………………………………46.1% Horseback Riding………...……….….19.1% Biking/Mountain Biking…………….. 8.3% Walking………………………………. 7.8% Birdwatching/Wildlife Viewing…….. 5.2% Camping………..…………...……… % OHV Driving……………………… % Backpacking…………………...…….. 3.1% Hunting……...……………………….. 3.1% Fishing……………………………… % Auto Touring…...…...…….…….……. 3.1% Motorcycle/Dirt Biking…...…………. 2.6%

Do you know if there is a trail within 15 minutes of your home or workplace? STATEWIDECENTRAL 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? STATEWIDECENTRAL NO YES NO

Main Reason Central 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 % None convenient/No trails close to home 5 3.3% Trails closed 5 3.3% Closed to certain activities 4 2.7% Family/Little children 4 2.7% Don’t have equipment needed 4 2.7% Poorly maintained 3 2.0% Not enough information about trails 2 1.3% Don’t know where trails are located 1 0.7% Don’t like trails with motorized use 1 0.7% Other reasons % (Total n=150)

Main Reason Central 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 % Family/Little children 4 4.3% Don’t have equipment needed 3 3.3% New to area 2 2.2% Don’t know where trails are located 1 1.1% Don’t like trails with non-motorized use 1 1.1% Horses not allowed 1 1.1% Not enough information about trails 1 1.1% Poorly maintained 1 1.1% Too difficult to get to 1 1.1% Other reasons 5 5.5% (Total n=92)

Main Reason Central 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 % None convenient/No trails close to home 2 2.4% Work 2 2.4% Closed to certain activities 1 1.2% Don’t have equipment needed 1 1.2% Don’t know where trails are located 1 1.2% Too steep/Too strenuous 1 1.2% Walk other places 1 1.2% Walk other places 1 1.2% Other reasons 8 9.6% (Total n=83)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

STATEWIDECENTRAL Gender of Respondents

Age of Respondents in the Central Planning District Trail Users Average Age: 43.3 years Non-Users Average Age: 50.3 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)