Home » Library » Schuylkill River Trail User Survey and Economic Impact Analysis

Schuylkill River Trail User Survey and Economic Impact Analysis

Library Topics

The Schuylkill River Trail, a multi-use pathway that generally follows the course of the Schuylkill River from Pottsville to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania has an estimated 802,239 annual trail users. Seventy eight percent of respondents to a trail use survey purchased hard goods in the past year in conjunction with their use of the trail at an average cost of $406.31 and the 50% who purchased food in conjunction with their most recent trail visit spent an average of $9.07.

Survey & Economic Impact Findings:

  • In 2008, 78% of the sample responded that their use of the trail had influenced a purchase of "hard goods" items including bikes, bike supplies, auto accessories, shoes, clothing and camping gear.
    • The average of these "hard goods" purchases was $406.31.
    • With an estimated 800,00 trail users in 2008, and an average life span of six years for "hard goods" purchses, this equates to $3,685,026 in trail related revenue.
  • 50% of the sample responded that their use of the trail had influenced a purchase of "soft goods" including drinks and food items on their most recent visit to the trail.
    • The average of these "soft goods" purchses was $9.07.
    • With an estimated 800,000 trail users in 2008, this equates to $3,628,000 in trail related revenue.
  • Less than 3% of the survey respondents indicated that an overnight stay was part of their trail experience so there is insufficient data to include this category of spending in the economic impact analysis.

Download/View

Schuylkill_River_Trail_2009_User_Survey_and_Economic_Impact_Analysis.pdf
(pdf, 4.0 mb)

Year: 2009

Author(s): Patricia A. Tomes

Organization/Source: Rails to Trails Conservancy

Topic tags: Economic Benefits of Trails