What do Residents Want to Make a Better Neighborhood Trail?
In May, RTC's Florida State Director Ken Bryan ran a helmet giveaway sponsored by The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida at an event hosted by the MaliVali Washington Kids Foundation along the S-Line Urban Greenway in Jacksonville. In order for youth to receive a helmet, an accompanying adult had to fill out a one-page questionnaire about their family's current level of trail use and desired improvements to the trail. Some highlights from the survey results:
- More than 65 percent of respondents reside in the Springfield and Durkeeville neighborhoods, which are adjacent to the S-Line Urban Greenway.
- About one-third of respondents reported that either they or the youth currently use the trail, of which 40 percent reported weekly use.
- 71 percent of respondents reported that their walking or bicycling would increase if better conditions existed. Suggestions for improved conditions included more sidewalks, bike routes, and trails. A few respondents also cited personal improvements, like helmets and new bicycles.
- More than one-third of the respondents offered their preferences for trail amenities. The most popular: shade structures and benches, fitness equipment, space for community gardening, and more lighting.
- More than 80 percent of respondents expressed interest in the promotion of a Walk/Bike to School Day at local schools; almost half thought that training for safe walking and/or bicycling would be helpful.
A complete tally of the survey results and a copy of the survey itself can be found in our Library.
