Chatham-Kent has over 45 Municipality owned and maintained pathways, multi-use pathways, and crusher dust trails.
Over the past year, the CK Trails Council has been busy determining an answer to the question “How many people are using our trails?”
Well, the numbers are in and they are outstanding, Municipal officials say.
In 2021, municipal staff have been able to capture usage data on 22 of those trails and pathways from five long term study counters and eight short term (four-week cycles) studies between July to December.
Here are the overall numbers they have received in 2021:
– 427,786 Trail walks took place throughout CK at the 22 test sites.
– 6,067 Trail walks took place on October 1st, making It the most walked day of the year.
– Trails see the highest usage in Chatham (49%) followed by Erieau (32%) followed by Mitchells Bay (7%) with the remaining communities of Ridgetown, Thamesville, Dresden, Blenheim and Wallaceburg with the remaining 12%.
– 15,469 cycling trips crossed paths with a cycling count site.
Municipal officials say in previous years they had no concise way of monitoring the use of the trails aside from volunteer data and residents.
However, at the beginning of the pandemic, residents noted trails in their area had seen a drastic increase of usership.
This lined up with the pandemics closure of other recreational spaces leaving trails as the main source of available socially distanced recreation.
Some trail users noted that a trail they normally walked increased by at least 50%, if not more.
With the data collected, Municipal officials say they can see that these trail users are not slowing down and seem to have created a daily habit.
This is important data that provides insight to staff for the following questions:
– Which trails are being used?
– How often is that trail being used?
– What time of day is the most active?
– Is it a commuter route or recreational route?
Municipal officials say most importantly, this data can then be used when applying for grants or trying to obtain resources to help support this infrastructure demonstrating the value of these trails to that community.
The trail counters are small utility units that are not cameras, they are infrared sensors, similar to a laser pointer that when the line is passed it counts the user.
These units have no monetary value, their sole purpose is to collect statistics, Municipal officials added.
