A LOOK AT VISITORS ON WISCONSIN'S ELROY-SPARTA BIKE TRAIL

In 1988 the Recreation Resources Center at the University of Wisconsin-Extension conducted a survey of bicyclists on the Elroy-Sparta Trail in western Wisconsin. The survey was conducted in cooperation with the University of Wisconsin-Extension in Monroe and Juneau counties, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and Elroy-Sparta National Trail, Inc. The purposes of the study were to 1) develop a general profile of the trail users and 2) identify the differences and similarities in behavior, trip-related expenditures, and background of users from different market areas. Applying the survey results to the approximately 50,000 people who visited the Elroy-Sparta Trail in 1988, it is estimated that: based on a per person expenditure of $25.14 for trip-related expenses, user spent approximately $1,257,000 in the area; nearly one-half (48.7%) of the users come from outside of the state; on average, users travel approximately 228 miles to get to the trail; the largest user group is less than 18 years of age (33.2%); the majority of female and male household heads are in "white collar" professions; users have a wide range of prior experience with biking for pleasure; safety is the main reason why people come to the trail; the vast majority (96%) of users have never used the trail for snowmobiling in the winter; and the most common source of information about the trail is from a friend or relative.

• Corporate Authors:

  University of Wisconsin, Madison

  Recreation Resources Center, 602 State Street
  Madison, WI  United States  53703
• Authors:
  • Schwecke, T
  • Sprehn, D
  • Hamilton, S
  • GRAY, J
• Publication Date: 1989-1

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 57 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Behavior; Cyclists; Data collection; Recreation; Surveys; Utilization
• Uncontrolled Terms: User behavior
• Geographic Terms: Wisconsin
• Old TRIS Terms: Bike trails; User characteristics
• Subject Areas: Highways; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Planning and Forecasting; Research; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00600758
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 31 1990 12:00AM