There is a very large number of active trail and greenway users in North Carolina. Approximately one third of all adult North Carolinians used a trail in the past 12 months. Based on a population of 5,630,142 individuals living in North Carolina 18 years old and older, there were an estimated 1,801,645 adult trail users in 1998. This proportion is consistent with our neighbors in South Carolina where a recent study found that 33% of South Carolinians had used a pedestrian trail during the past 12 months (University of South Carolina, 1992). Trail participation is nearly equal among males and females, is highest among those younger than 40, and generally increases with increases in education and income except for those at the highest income levels. Walking for pleasure is the most popular trail and greenway activity based on numbers participating (and annual participation rates) followed by hiking, biking and running.

Existing participation does not give a complete picture of trail demand in the state, however. While 32% said they had used a trail or greenway during the past 12 months, an additional 22% reported that they had wanted to but were unable to for some reason. It appears that over half of all North Carolinians are active trail users or want to be. The reasons why people were not able to use trails as often as they wanted to was an important finding of this study. The constraints to trail use identified are particularly relevant for state trail program officials because state and local efforts could reduce some of the impediments to trail use. Constructing more trails closer to where people live would help solve many of the problems identified. A third of the constrained users reported that not having trails close to home was a problem. A full 75% said that not having enough time was a problem. More trails closer to home would reduce required travel times and allow more of these potential users to participate. Providing more trails could also help address the expressed problems of over-crowded trails and of nearby trails being too strenuous. Providing outdoor recreation opportunities closer to where people live is not a new idea. It was identified by the President’s Commission on Americans Outdoors over a decade ago (President’s Commission on Americans Outdoors, 1987).

There is a prevailing belief among some trail advocates that many potential trail and greenway users are not well aware of existing trail and greenway opportunities. The findings of this study supported this belief - lack of awareness of existing trails and greenways and lack of basic information about them does seem to be a significant barrier to trail use for many North Carolinians. While the vast majority of respondents said they were aware of unsurfaced and surfaced trails in general as well as national scenic (e.g., the Appalachian Trail), historic, and recreation trails, far fewer were aware of the more specialized trails available to them. Only 53%, 42% and 37% were aware of mountain bike, greenway, and designated water trails, respectively. Only a quarter were familiar with public off-highway vehicle trails or the NC "Mountains to the Sea Trail" and only about one in eight were aware of rail-trails.

Trail information is not being made available in the ways most people would prefer to access it. Presently informal "unofficial" sources are the most prevalent sources of information on trails in North Carolina. In fact, friends are by far the most commonly used source of trail information. The other commonly used sources were signs at access points, magazine and newspaper stories, and previous experience with the area. This is unfortunate since it indicates that most North Carolinians are probably getting very limited information and information which may be incomplete or even inaccurate. The three preferred sources indicated by respondents were ones which they actually used very little. The method preferred by 89% of respondents was through trail brochures, but this method was currently used by only 28%. The next most preferred means, the internet/WWW and parks and recreation offices were currently being used by only 8% and 29% of North Carolinians, respectively. Apparently, the kinds of trail information people want is simply not being provided in the ways they would like to receive it.

An understanding of the benefits that trails and greenways provide for the people of North Carolina is necessary to begin to evaluate the effectiveness of the State Trails Program and gauge the levels and types of investment in trail development that might be warranted. Although trail advocates promote the many benefits they believe trails generate, there has been a shortage of data-based documentation and the public may not be generally aware of trail benefits. For instance, in a July 1997 Raleigh News & Observer article on what some saw as slow progress in expanding the Raleigh greenway system, it was reported that city officials were questioning the public's willingness to spend the money required to increase the pace of greenway development. This study found otherwise. North Carolinians, overall, valued their trails and greenways quite highly and reported that they were willing to invest in them. Nearly three-quarters felt it was important to have trails available in North Carolina. The majority felt that trails are important in providing the following benefits for surrounding communities (in order of importance): aesthetic beauty, health and fitness, public recreation opportunities, preserving undeveloped open space, public education about nature and the environment, community pride, and tourism and business development.

This study found that trail and greenway use makes a significant contribution to the state’s economy. Users reported that they spent a median amount of $10 on their most recent trail trip. Using this median expenditure and only users’ annual trips to the most recent trail they had visited, direct expenditures on trail-related trips in North Carolina are in excess of $91,883,000 annually (32% of North Carolinians using trails in the past 12 months times adult state population of 5,630,142 times $10 per trip times 5.1 trips in last 12 months to trail visited most recently). This estimate is almost certainly conservative since it does not take into account all the trail-related trips for respondents who visited multiple trails in the state during the period. Neither does it consider the positive ripple effects (estimated using multipliers) of these direct expenditures on the state economy.

In addition to the significant economic impacts (actual user expenditures) generated by trail use, trails in the state are extremely valuable to North Carolinians. When the total benefits of trails were modeled for the state based on users’ revealed demand for trail trips, consumer surplus was estimated to be in excess of $184 per user. Considering all adult North Carolinian trail users, this indicates that the value of trails and trail use in the state is approximately $331.5 million. When asked directly how much they would be willing to pay each year to use trails in North Carolina if the money was used to develop and maintain trails in the state, over three-quarters said they would pay a fee, with the overall average amount being nearly $12.

In some ways, the current system of trails in the state is meeting the needs of North Carolinians. For example, most users experienced few problems on their most recent trail visits. There was, however, a sizable minority who had experienced problems with lack of drinking water, restrooms and other services; conflicts with other users; and maintenance-related issues. This indicates that some trails are not adequately serving their users and that any needed improvements should be made.

In general though, North Carolinians would like to see their trail system expanded. Over 60% felt both the number of trails and the variety of trails currently available in the state were inadequate and the majority would like to have both an unsurfaced trail and a surfaced one nearer to their homes. How much the system should be expanded and with what mix of trails is a more complex question. One national report advocates establishing a goal of providing a trail within 15 minutes of every American (American Trails, 1990). This study found that North Carolinians are essentially evenly divided about whether this is an appropriate goal for our state, however. Currently North Carolinians report that they have to travel an average of over 20 miles one-way to access the nearest surfaced or unsurfaced trail. Only 32% of them say they are 15 minutes or closer to the most recent trail they visited. The mix of activities respondents plan to participate in during the next five years generally reflects their current use patterns, with walking for pleasure, hiking, bicycling, backpacking and jogging/running being the expected activities for the largest proportions. There was no clear consensus among those polled about what types of trails should be the highest priorities for future development in the state, although designated "water trails," surfaced trails in urban areas, and unsurfaced trails in both rural and suburban areas were considered slightly more important on average than others.

Based on the findings of this study the following recommendations are offered for consideration for improving the system of trails available in North Carolina: