1. Are greenway trails like the GHS Swamp Rabbit safe?

Trail Safety: putting fears into perspective

• The two year Rails to Trails Safe Communities Study (1998) was a study of 372 trails representing 7000 miles with 45 million estimated users.
• The overall conclusion was that Rails to Trails do not increase crime.
• Law enforcement cite “Separation of a criminal from his/her escape as being a primary deterrent”
• Property owners adjacent to trail report that an active use trail is better than living near an unused rail corridor and once a trail came into use concerned property owners realized the economic and health benefits to the community.
• Only 3% of the 372 trails reported any type of major crime
• The Chief of Police in Buena Vista, PA reported that the trail reduced problems such as underage drinking along the riverbanks because of the increased presence of people
• FBI study showed of the 36 Urban Trails surveyed covering 332 miles with 5 million estimated users rates of crimes were in the tenths to hundredths of a percent when compared to general urban area crime.
• On 82 Suburban trails covering 1100 miles and 14 million users there was one mugging and 5 assaults in a 2 year period compared to the national annual rate of 102 muggings and 293 assaults in non-trails suburban areas a year. No rapes or murder were reported on any of the suburban trails.
• On Rural trails covering 5282 miles and 26 million users there were a total of 10 major crimes (crimes against persons) none of which were murders
• The odds of experiencing a major crime while on a trail are only slightly better than winning the Powerball lottery. When was the last time you won the Powerball?
• Regarding Minor Crimes (crimes against property) only 25% of trail managers reported any type of minor crime.
• On Urban trails there were no reports of burglaries, only one on Suburban trails and 3 on rural trails
• 66 of 100 (2005) trails surveyed officially close at dusk ,
  • 7 of the 34 trails open 24 hours have lights at trailheads
  • 3 have lights on trail
  • 1 trail had call boxes   
  • 3/4 of trails are patrolled by police, sheriffs, rangers or some similar authority, while 1/3 have some sort of citizen patrols 
• Despite this vigilance, 2/3 of trails report vandalism of signs, including equal parts damage, grafitti and theft. 1/3 of trails report problems with other vandalism, dumping and trespass, mostly illegal ATV access.
• Only five trails report minor crimes against property
• No crimes against persons were reported.
• Furman University Public Safety reports 3 legitimate calls in 4 years of having call boxes on campus and 2-3 false alarms/prank calls per month which still requires an officer to go to the site.
•  Campbell (Silicon Valley, CA) police communications supervisor Paula Gallagher said of the 87 total calls in 2007, only 20 were legitimate calls for service. In 2006, there were 145 calls, 20 of which were valid. Gallagher noted that legitimate calls pertain to medical needs, stranded motorists or a request for animal control. She said someone from the police department is sent out each time there is a call, in case it is an emergency.
• Average price of a emergency call box is $4200  (Rath Security 2009)

 South Burlington, Vermont Chief of Police (1998) wrote to a local planning agency considering a trail “Crime and fear of crime do not flourish in an environment of high energy and healthy interaction among law-abiding community members…the trail may be one of the safest places in the city” based on his review of incident reports

“Rail Trails are not crime free. No place on earth can make that claim. However when compared to the communities in which they exist, compared to roads and parking lots, and compared to many other public and private places, rails to trails have an excellent public safety record.”

You are 2 to 3 times safer on the trail than you are in your home as identified by National Crime Statistics.

“Our society accepts approximately 40,000 highway deaths every year because we believe that the convenience of highway travel is worth the risk.  Similarly, in 1992 there were 30 murders, 1000 rapes and 1800 robberies on college campuses; however, most people believe that the rewards associated with a college education are worth the risks involved.” – John Yoder

“Crime occurs on roads, in schools, parking lots, office buildings, zoos and homes. However no one would rationally argue that we should not build any of the above because crime will occur there. The same should be true with trails.”

2. What can be done about people that are acting dangerous on the trail (riding too fast, passing too close, dogs off leash, etc)

 It is a shame that some people don’t know how to share the trail. The best way to deal with these individuals is to use the Sheriff’s dispatch phone number. When you experience dangerous behavior on the trail make a note of what direction the person is  traveling, a physical description (gender, clothing colors, etc), and the closest mile marker/stencil where you saw them. Call dispatch and they will connect you with the officer on duty where you can pass on this information to them in hopes that the officer will be able to intercept the person(s) while on the trail and remind them that their actions on the trail are not appropriate and may result in a ticket.

Always feel free to contact me:

Ty Houck
Director of Greenways, Natural and Historic Resources
864-676-2180 ext. 141