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SECTION 4 - BENEFITS OF RAIL TRAILS
Converting disused rail reserves into recreation trails makes eminently good sense.
Such trails have many in-built advantages. One of the most important is gradient -
most rail lines have a gradient of less than three degrees, which allows and
encourages use by almost all population groups, regardless of age or physical
condition. Hills and motor vehicles are two of the major negative factors that limit
trail use, and rail-trails circumvent both. Further, rail-trails often traverse a wide
variety of landscapes and can contain historic bridges and other remarkable
structures. The existing formation means that little construction work is required to
produce a broad, flat, firm trail surface.
There is little doubt that recreation trails provide significant benefits, both to trail
users, and the host communities. The Recreational Trails Strategy for South
Australia 2002 - 2010 (SA Office of Sport and Recreation 2002) provides a succinct
summary of these. The authors of this report state that social health, physical
fitness, environmental protection, cultural preservation and the economy can all
improve from the effects and experiences offered by recreational trails.
4.1 Social and Physical Health Benefits
Trails provide communities with a diverse, free opportunity to explore and enjoy
healthy recreational pursuits. Active recreation, in any form, will improve health.
People can use trails in a variety of ways, depending on their abilities and
preferences. Social and physical health benefits include:
- Participation in trail activities can improve physical and mental health, assisting with disease prevention particularly cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, respiratory, nervous and endocrine systems as well as reducing obesity, hypertension, depression and anxiety. Obesity, particularly childhood obesity, consistently features in the press as one of the major issues facing Australians. While a particular piece of recent research suggests that children are exercising as much today as in previous times and it is diet that is the major contributing factor, this conclusion is yet to be fully tested. Regardless of this research, obesity amongst adults and children is increasing. Increased physical activity will make a difference. The obesity epidemic is now estimated to cost Australia $1.3 billion/year (Australian Bicycle Council).
- Trail activities facilitate participation and social interaction between a diversity of community members, age groups, individuals and families e.g. community walking groups, voluntary trail maintenance and conservation work;
- Trails can offer a wide range of opportunities to a diverse group of people. Depending upon design, trails can accommodate the elderly, people with disabilities or satisfy those seeking challenging adventures and a sense of achievement;
- Participation in trail activities has a relatively low cost to participants;
- Trails can introduce participants to other recreational and participation offerings in the community; and
- Trails help to connect people and places and to develop community pride.
Regular physical activity, as can be provided by the use of a trail, improves health
in the following ways:
- Reduces the risk of dying prematurely from heart disease & other conditions;
- Reduces the risk of developing diabetes;
- Reduces the risk of developing high blood pressure;
- Reduces blood pressure in people who already have high blood pressure;
- Reduces the risk of developing colon and breast cancer;
- Helps to maintain a healthy weight;
- Helps build and maintain healthy bones, muscles, and joints;
- Helps older adults to become stronger and better able to move about without falling;
- Reduces depression and anxiety; and
- Promotes psychological well-being.
(U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 1996)
Market Equity (2004), in its report on trails in South Australia, found that using
trails to get a sense of well-being (95% of survey respondents) and using trails as a
means to unwind and relax (91% of respondents) were the two main drivers getting
people out on recreation trails. The psychological health benefits of trails remain
under-estimated.
4.2 Environmental and Cultural Benefits
Trails provide a number of environmental and cultural benefits. These include:
- Opportunities for the community to experience natural and cultural environments;
- Protection of the adjacent environments by localising impacts and facilitating management of visitation effects;
- Educational and interpretive opportunities and increased environmental and cultural awareness and appreciation;
- Provision of green commuter journeys leading to a decrease in the use of motorised vehicles for transportation and recreation. This helps reduce the
production of emissions that cause global warming and respiratory problems;
- Increased community ownership which helps to preserve natural and cultural values; and
- Opportunities for community participation in conservation and revegetation work.
4.3 Economic Benefits
The existing Riesling Trail injects $1.08 million per year into the Clare region
(Market Equity 2004). The Bibbulmun Track has generated $21 million expenditure
annually by track users, well in excess of its construction costs of $5 million (Colmar
Brunton 2004). In addition
- Trails generate intrastate, interstate and overseas tourism spending;
- Trails support and enhance local business opportunities. For example, many local businesses along the Bibbulmun Track (Western Australia's premier long distance walking track) are now able to identify a turning point in their fortunes relating directly to the popularity of the track;
- Trail users spend money preparing for their trail journeys or recreation activities;
- Trail construction and maintenance can generate employment opportunities; and
- Participation in trail activities improves community health and reduces health expenditure.
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