July was spent preparing for the Trail User Survey, and August was spent monitoring and conducting the Trail User Survey. This month I was able to let survey take course with the help 40+ volunteers. Each week TTOC and volunteers are surveying trail users (both locals and through riders) to find out where they’re coming from, where they’re going, what they’re spending, and what they are doing on the Great Allegheny Passage. This year surveys are taking place in the following Trail Towns: Homestead/Waterfront, McKeesport, Boston, West Newton, Connellsville, Ohiopyle, Confluence, Rockwood, Meyersdale, Frostburg, and Cumberland. So far we have collected over 600 surveys from these eleven locations! One concern from the previous survey was “cherry picking” the over-night visitors. So far the results seem to have a mix of locals and long distant bicyclers. One can already see trends based on the time of day with who is using the trail. At this time, the plan is to continue surveying until mid October.
-William Prince