2011 Annual Trail Usage Tallies Provide Valuable Insights
By Friends of Upper Charles Trail
May 14th, 2011Successful Annual Earth Day Clean-up
The Friends of the Milford Upper Charles Trail completed the annual trail usage count on Saturday, May 14th at points near the Louisa Lake and Fino Field Phase 1 Trail sections. Additionally, Phase 2 counts were collected near Prezo Restaurant as a ‘preview’ for potential traffic prior to the official completion of the Phase 2 sections.
Volunteers armed with clipboards, watches, jackets, and umbrellas tallied the various individuals using the different sections of trail over a 12 hour time period from 7am-7pm.These tallies provide valuable insights into the busiest times along the trail, the kinds of activities the trail is being used for, and which sections exhibit the most traffic. This information is critical to the identification of potential safety concerns, to the maintenance and continued enhancements along the completed sections as well as to the development of the future sections in neighboring towns of Holliston and Hopkinton, and comparisons to statewide rail trail use.
Results for the more than 1,600 people that used the trail on Saturday, May 14th, 2011:
- 75% of users were walkers (44%) and bikers (31%)
- This year, 52% of use was at the Louisa Lake section, with 38% at the Fino Field area, and 10% of use was seen at the Phase 2 section behind Prezo. It appears that the Trail use continues to increase each year.
- The busiest times along the Trail are generally mid-morning (11am to noon) and mid-afternoon (2-3pm) with slight differences among the locations.
It would not be possible to obtain these results without the assistance of all the volunteers who helped with this year’s count. A huge thank you goes to the following individuals and groups: Edward Eck, Sheldon Moniz, Jim Cockroft, Dick Flooks, Peter Bucci, Alternatives Unlimited-Jamie Marks, Michael Lalime, Paul Asante and their residents, Nancy Wojick, Dave Cassinelli, Kerrin O’Connor, Frank Hynes, Alison Dann, Marge and Don Barrett, Brett Staupe, and Pat Rosenthal.
