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Survey: More use trails

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BY ALGIS J. LAUKAITIS / Lincoln Journal Star

Wednesday, Jul 26, 2006 - 08:36:31 am CDT

Recreational trail use in Lincoln is up over last year, but helmet use is about the same.

Those are some of the key findings of the seventh annual survey conducted July 9 by the Great Plains Trails Network along the city’s trails network.

The survey is a snapshot of trail use in Lincoln. Volunteers recorded information at 11 sites — the same locations they visited in 2005. They counted cyclists, runners, walkers, skaters, passengers (children carried in backpacks, bike trailers and strollers), pets, skateboarders, scooters and wheelchairs from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

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Tim Suhr and Dan Riskowski bike home from work along the Rock Island Creek trail on Tuesday afternoon. (Teresa Prince)

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Here's a breakdown of trail use courtesy of a recent survey by the Great Plains Trails Network. Volunteers sampled trail use on July 9 at 11 sites thr...

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Overall, helmet use was 46 percent, virtually the same as last year, the survey showed. Bicyclists wore helmets 47 percent of the time, skaters 27 percent and passengers 36 percent of the time.

“It’s definitely improved, but it seems to be stagnating at about 46 percent or so for the past five years,” said David Scoby, a Great Plains Trail Network board member and co-chairman of a committee that conducted the annual survey.

Scoby said Lincoln’s helmet use is in line with the national average, but some areas, like Seattle, have higher use. He said his group would like to see more people wear helmets because it can prevent serious head injuries.

Overall, trail use was up by 16 percent at the 11 sites compared to last year. The only decrease in users this year was on the MoPac Trail at the 84th Street Trailhead. All other  trails showed an increase over last year’s numbers.

“I can believe that the trail use is up because we have heard that from a variety of different sources,” said Terry Genrich, natural resources and greenways manager for the Lincoln Parks and Recreation Department. He believes the high price of gas is a major reason for the increase.

Trails in south-central Lincoln were used the most, Scoby said. For example, the Rock Island Trail had first and second highest number of users. Volunteers counted 1,515 users on the trail at Van Dorn Street and 1,032 at Old Cheney Road.

Lincoln has about 100 miles of trails within the city. Of those, 65 miles are commuter trails.

Reach Algis J. Laukaitis at 473-7243 or alaukaitis@journalstar.com.

Trail use by the numbers:

6,986 -- Total trail users counted at 11 locations

4,533 -- Bicyclists on the trails

1,515 -- Highest number of trail users recorded at one location (the Rock Island Trail at Van Dorn Street)

1,443 -- Walkers on the trails

648 -- Runners on the trails

339 -- Pets counted; 92 percent were on leashes

46 -- Percent of people who wore helmets

Source: Great Plains Trails Network


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c.h. wrote on July 26, 2006 5:41 am:
" I ride the bison trail every morning before work. Over the years my kids and I have ridden all the beautiful trails. It's one of the things I point out to visitors with pride. Of course, I've always made the kids wear helmets. CPS'd probably get me if I didn't! Me?. well, not so much. Sorry, but few things look more ridiculous than a middle-aged woman wearing a bike helmet. Yeah, I KNOW it's a dumb reason, OK. I wear my seatbelt even though it wrinkles my skirt. "

 Mark wrote on July 26, 2006 7:35 am:
" Lincoln's trail system is a great asset. I have had family and friends visit from New York, Michigan, Ohio, Rhode Island, Kentucky and elsewhere. They have all commented at how fortunate we are to have so many quality trails. Thank you city of Lincoln, Lower Platte South Natural Resource District, and the Great Plains Trails Network for your vision and leadership. "

 C wrote on July 26, 2006 7:37 am:
" The trail network in Lincoln is fantastic!!! This spring scouts from Troop 2 completed their cycling merit badge using the trails. Their last ride was 50 miles, we were able to complete the entire ride on the trails with only one section being repeated! c.h. always wear your helmet, you'll look like a much bigger dork as a middle aged woman with a cane who drools from her head injury!!! "

 Incomplete Trails wrote on July 26, 2006 8:02 am:
" I hope the city council and voters again consider this as an asset and keep supporting development into new areas. It was a shame the bond proposal to purchase property near the South By Pass was rejected. "

 Tony wrote on July 26, 2006 8:04 am:
" I ride my bike everywhere. Lincoln's trail system is first class. To quote Mark "Thank you city of Lincoln, Lower Platte South Natural Resource District, and the Great Plains Trails Network for your vision and leadership." Once the Antelope Valley Project is finished, and the trails extended into downtown and UNL, I'll never need my car except to get groceries and when the weather get's bad. "

 Jason wrote on July 26, 2006 8:41 am:
" Listen, I ride the Mopac trail mostly and I don't even own a helmet. I never have and I never will. Even growing up when I was learning how to ride I never wore one and I even fell and hit my head once or twice. Now that might explain alot of things, but I still. I guess I grew up in a safer time, the 80's. "

 JImmy wrote on July 26, 2006 9:01 am:
" I ride everyday to and from work, rain, snow or shine. The trails are great, but many of them lead to nowhere. This is being worked on though, and in the coming years the trail system will be really great. The trail runs across the street from me, so I'm also hoping it will increase my property value in the future. Gas prices will continue to go up, and I might not be so lonely out there riding to work. Wouldn't that be great? "

 Lucas wrote on July 26, 2006 9:08 am:
" Eastern Nebraska, in general, has good trails. Both the Papoio NRD and the Lower Platte South have really done a good job. For what it's worth, I also grew up in the safest decade ever, the 1980's, and couldn't imagine wearing a helmet on a bike path. I don't wear a helmet when I run, so I don't need one when I bike. I would be quite surprised to see any other runners with helmets on the trails, but you never know in this world that gets more dangerous by the day. "

 Equestrian wrote on July 26, 2006 10:35 am:
" Did anyone count the number of horses on the Mo-Pac trail? Horses are allowed east of 98th & A and are active trail users. Curious why they weren't counted, too? As an equestrian I thank the NRD for allowing equestrian trails on NRD property. PS -- I wear a helmet! "

 lv wrote on July 26, 2006 11:08 am:
" Helmets - Good. Anyone read about the recent deaths - one being a retired police officer? That's OK, we'll just pick up the pieces after, but how about the example for kids. They mimic and learn from what we do. I suppose it's OK to speed, jaywalk, throw cigarette butts out, right? Kids see these things nad helmets are no exception. How about some trails to north Lincoln? There are folks living out there too. "

 JImmy wrote on July 26, 2006 11:52 am:
" I wear a helmet no matter how short the trip. I don't think it is necessarily less safe today (although cell phone wielding drivers sometimes makes me feel different) it is just that we know more today. Why take the chance? "

 alw wrote on July 26, 2006 1:03 pm:
" I too grew up in the 80s-not that it should matter. Rode bikes all the time as a child. Never once did I wear a helmet or pads. It was just not done back then. I currently do not drool on myself nor do I walk with a cane. If you choose to wear a helmet and all the accoutrements that's fine. Just leave me alone. I choose not to wear one and I am aware of the risks. Save your self-righteous crap for your own kids. I am an adult and I don't like to be preached to about how to keep myself safe. By the way...I am law abiding. Just because I don't wear a bike helmet does not mean I enjoy speeding, drinking and driving, and other law breaking activities. Sooooo tired of people wanting to save other people from themselves. Ever stop to think we might be saving people from themselves too much thus erasing common sense altogether? I think it's called survival of the fittest... "

 Kurt K wrote on July 26, 2006 1:25 pm:
" It is just so hard to believe we are all here since we didn't wear helmets growing up, I just can't believe we are still alive! "

 FWIW wrote on July 26, 2006 6:36 pm:
" If people seriously wanted to do something to prevent head injuries. There is one thing that would have a far greater benefit than wearing a bike helmet. Wear a helmet whenever you ride in a car. I'm not advocting that, but it would have a lot more effect than whatever good is gained from wearing bike helmets. "

 Byekin wrote on July 26, 2006 11:07 pm:
" As a person that grew up not wearing a helmet when I biked it was a tough pill to swallow to start. I put around 2000 miles per year on my bike so I would think my bike handling skills are somewhat better than the average person, even so, the helmet has saved my brain a couple of times now. Wearing a bike helmet is the right choice for me. Life is about choices and regrets. People certainly have the right to make their own choice in this matter. "

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