Recreation Demand

Even the best planned, most beautiful greenway may fall far short of its recreational goals if there isn’t a reasonable level of recreational demand for such a facility in the community.  The previous information describes Staunton’s recreation facilities and activity supply, but it does not completely define residents’ recreation demand.  Although Gypsy Hill Park and its features are clearly the most heavily used, specific facility usage numbers are not available from the city.  However, the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation conducts a statewide recreation survey every several years for the purpose of updating the Virginia Outdoor Plan.  Survey results are broken down by region to show the specific recreational activities in highest demand by each area of the state.

Virginia Outdoor Plan Survey

The latest Virginia Outdoor Plan survey results from 2002 (detailed in Appendix Table 8) show that the top four activities on which Central Shenandoah residents spend their recreation time are:  Walking for Pleasure (36.5% of total activity hours), Driving for Pleasure (11.9%), Bicycling (11.0%), and Jogging/Running (8.7%).  The top four activities are the same statewide, but are in a different order:  Walking for Pleasure (33.6%), Jogging/Running (13.1%), Bicycling (10%), and Driving for Pleasure (8.1%).  Using these figures, one may assume that Staunton residents are slightly more likely than other Virginians to go walking and bicycling for recreation/exercise and less likely to go jogging/running.  In addition, the survey results go on to show that Staunton residents may also be more likely to take part in:  hiking/backpacking, picnicking away from home, and visiting natural areas.  In summary, these statistics indicate that Staunton residents would welcome facilities that expand opportunities for safe walking and bicycling in attractive natural areas.

Central Shenandoah Regional Bike Plan Survey

As part of the CSPDC’s regional bike plan project for the Central Shenandoah region, Toole Design Group offered an internet survey to the residents of the participating localities – five counties, five cities, and eleven towns.  From February through March 2005, links to the survey were posted on the official websites of the participating local governments and area libraries.  This survey is not a scientific random sample of the region or of Staunton and is likely skewed toward people who are most interested in biking, however, the survey does give a sense of the popularity of and attitudes about biking in the region.  It also provides many suggestions for how and where to improve and encourage biking activities.

According to the 2000 U.S. Census, the Central Shenandoah region had a total population of 258,789 and Staunton’s share was 9.2% - although this percentage has likely decreased in recent years.  Even with only 9.2% or less of the region’s total population, Staunton accounted for 19.7%, or 222, of the 1,125 total survey respondents.  This led all other localities in the region including Augusta County which was second.  Not only did interested Staunton residents respond in impressive numbers, but their input was overwhelmingly supportive of efforts to improve biking in and around Staunton.  Of the Staunton respondents, 31.5% ride one or more times per week, 42.3% ride once or twice per month or several times a year, and the other 26.1% ride rarely if ever.  Individuals who ride a few times a year or more (73.9%) were asked additional questions about their riding habits and biking in the area.  Those who rarely or ever ride a bike were asked fewer follow up questions but were included in some – particularly about what might encourage them or others to ride more frequently.

Of the 73.9% of Staunton respondents who bike, almost all of them (90.2%) named exercise / recreational activity as their primary reason.  Nearly 42% of their typical bike trips are five miles or less, 28% are five to ten miles, and just over 30% of the trips are ten miles or longer.  These numbers seem to indicate a strong presence of intermediate-level and enthusiast-level bicyclists in Staunton.  Other survey responses also indicate a strong unmet demand in Staunton for facilities that would safely accommodate other less confident, less experienced bicyclists (families, children, elderly) who want to be separated from traffic and ride shorter distances.  Some other Staunton resident responses to key questions are below:

• “How would improved bike facilities most benefit your community?”
  • The top three of nine options:  First – improved safety of families riding for recreation and exercise, Second – improved safety of motorists sharing the road with cyclists, Third – encouraging residents to bike for transportation
• “Which of the following factors deter you from riding a bike to places you go often?”
  • The top five of eleven options:  Traffic volume/speed (73.7%), Safety of travel route for bicyclists (71.9%), Lack of dedicated bike lanes/paths (70.0%), Hills (34.1%), Availability of bicycle parking (25.8%)
• “Which one of the following do you think would do the most to encourage bicycling in the Central Shenandoah Valley?”
  •  The top two of ten options:  Build bike lanes or paths (78.8%), Create a map or list of routes appropriate/safe for biking (11.3%)
• “If better bicycle facilities (bike lanes, wider shoulders, separate bike paths, bike racks, route maps, etc.) were available, would you bike more often?”
  • Yes (84.9%), No (15.1%)

In addition to statistics related to attitudes and habits, the survey also asked questions about specific routes and destinations – which are and should be the most popular for bikers, and which should receive the focus of facility improvements.  Because these questions were open-ended they received a wide variety of responses pinpointing spots both in and outside the city.  One of these questions asked, “Please list up to three destinations that you frequently travel to, or would like to travel to, on bicycle.”  About 47% of the 368 responses were locations outside the city.  Gypsy Hill Park and Downtown Staunton accounted for 11.7% and 10.3% respectively.  Other city parks, the library, grocery stores / shopping centers, and the YMCA were all mentioned several times as well.  To date, some of the survey’s raw data are still being compiled and tabulated by Toole Design – including answers to open-ended questions and trail route suggestions.  When this information is summarized, it will provide valuable detail pertaining to the various routes Staunton residents see as the best routes for current and future bike paths.

The Staunton Frontier Trail will link many of the recreation facilities, schools, and open spaces described above to create a balanced, integrated recreation network.  This linking of spots with a dedicated trail will meet Staunton’s higher than average demand for walking and biking options.  As the trail’s popularity grows among all demographic groups, heavy exercise traffic at Gypsy Hill Park will also be reduced.