Bicycle use on rail trails: Survey results
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We have been carrying out surveys on rail trails to help us find out who uses the trails, which bits are most popular and which bits could be improved.
We have been carrying out surveys on rail trails to help us find out who uses the trails, which bits are most popular and which bits could be improved.
The information provides us with valuable data that helps us in our campaigning.
Lilydale–Warburton Rail Trail Survey, July 2005
Rail trails are bringing thousands of dollars to towns across Victoria but others are missing out because of incomplete trails. Towns like Lilydale, Moe, Ballarat and Geelong are very close to good rail trails but people are not spending in the towns.
These towns are tantalisingly close to rail trails, with some minor development they could be cashing in.
A 2003 Latrobe University study found that on average visitors to rail trails spend $51 per day. It doesn’t sound like much, but that means every 500 people on the trail are spending $10,000. If you have that many riders each weekend, that’s half a million dollars over a year.
Rail Trail usage is increasing in Victoria with the Wangaratta to Bright Rail Trail again experiencing a 24% jump in use. 4,234 people counted on the trail on Easter Sunday this year compared with 3,422 in 2004. That increase brought an extra $40,000 to the valley on that Sunday alone.
However a recent Bicycle Victoria survey found that towns can miss out on tourist dollars if they are not easily accessible from a rail trail. The survey of 544 trail users on the Lilydale–Warburton rail trail found that trail users are avoiding Lilydale because the trail is confusing and potentially dangerous near the town.
Traders in Lilydale are missing out on thousands of dollars while the link from the Lilydale–Warburton Rail Trail to Lilydale station is incomplete.
Our survey of 544 trail users found that the Lilydale to Mt Evelyn section is the least used part of the rail trail for bike riders.
Three quarters of the riders stop for food and drink in Warburton but only 7% buy in Lilydale.
The good news is that a bridge over the highway would make a big difference. Eighty percent of trail users indicated they would be more inclined to start their rail trail trip at Lilydale if there was a continuous and easy to follow trail from Lilydale Station to the Maroondah Hwy and a safe crossing over the road.
It's the bike riders that spend the money. They would be buying sunscreens, snacks, and water at the start and a pub lunch on their return. The local traders are clearly missing out.
It is not surprising visitors to the Lilydale-Warburton Rail Trail are bypassing Lilydale and starting at Mt Evelyn instead. The trail starts in no mans land at the moment. Visitors have difficulty finding the start in Lilydale so they avoid it altogether.
The Rail Trail Committee of Management has been working on a legible connection from the railway station to the Maroondah Hwy but a safe road crossing is still needed. “A safe crossing over the highway in the form of a pedestrian bridge is our preferred option,” says Harry Barber. “Not only will it benefit local residents with a safe crossing of the Maroondah Hwy but also revitalise the Lilydale end of the rail trail”.
The Lilydale–Warburton Rail Trail survey found that:
- Most bike riders used the trail several times a year and the most popular section was between Woori Yallock and Launching Place.
- 77% of bike riders bought meals or snacks while using the trail while 34% of walkers purchased food and drink.
- Warburton was the preferred place for a bite to eat – with 74% of trail users stopping for refreshments.
- Yarra Junction, Woori Yallock and Launching Place each had around 23% of people stopping for refreshments while Lilydale had the least food and drink stops with 6.7%.
- 18% of cyclists and 9% of walkers stayed in accommodation on the trail with Warburton experiencing the most overnight stays. All towns except Wandin along the trail recorded some overnight visitors
- The majority of people walked the trail in the area around Mt Evelyn.
- Some survey respondents came from as far afield as South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales and Tasmania.
Unfortunately Lilydale is not the only town failing to capitalise on rail trails.
Ballarat is clearly missing out on trail dollars because the Ballarat-Skipton rail trail is difficult to find and currently starts four kilometres west of Lake Wendouree. You won’t get people using the trail when they can’t find the start.Even locals don’t know where the trail starts.
Add a good trail to the appeal of Sovereign Hill and people will be staying overnight in Ballarat not driving away to stay somewhere else.
Geelong is also missing out on tourism dollars from the Bellarine Peninsula rail trail. The Bellarine Rail Trail currently ends invisibly and inexplicably near the Geelong Showgrounds, only a kilometre from the South Geelong Railway Station.
As a first step Bicycle Victoria wants to see the rail trail extended to South Geelong station. Linking the Bellarine Peninsula rail trail to the station and then to existing paths will bring extra tourism dollars to Geelong.
Another missed opportunity is the town of Moe. The Moe Yallourn rail trail currently ends invisibly in Moeat Narracan Drive but extending it to the railway station would increase local use and increase visitor spending.
The good news for Moe is that it is relatively easy to tap into the benefits of the trail. Harry Barber said. Latrobe City Councillor, Tony Zimorais on the rail trail committee and is keen to see the trail extended to Moe central business district.
Our survey clearly shows that towns can miss out on trail dollars if they are not accessible. What is most frustrating about this situation is that the solutions are not difficult, they just need funding.
Bicycle Victoria is currently conducting surveys on a number of rail trails in regional Victoria. The surveys are now open and can be found by following the link on the right of this page. We are keen to find out how to improve the rail trails and increase the benefits they can bring to regional towns, please take a few minutes to fill in the questionnaires.