The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
Trail access for under-served gets notice
The equity-driven plan was issued in August 2020
Trails in Montgomery County are increasingly popular, particularly the Schuylkill River Trail. But with who? An August, 2020 study by the Montgomery Planning Commission found the demographics of those using the trail do not always match the demographics of the communities through which a trail passes.
Noticeably fewer are young people, minorities, handicapped, older and foreign-born residents who are not seen on the trail in the same proportion as they live in communities nearby to the trails, according to the study, “Montgomery county Trail Access, Diversity and Awareness.”
This is not unusual in Pennsylvania. The 2014 -2019 Pennsylvania State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan found about 92 percent of outdoor recreations users statewide self-identify as white.
“While the (trail) counts indicate heavy use throughout the year, Montgomery County wants to ensure that that its trail network is equitable, in that it is accessible to all potential users, and that all Montgomery County residents, as well as visitors, are aware of the trail amenities available to them, and feel comfortable using them,” according to the data examined by the county.
To that point, “several communities located within the Pennypack and Schuylkill River Trail corridors have been identified as potentially disadvantaged and equity-deficient, as compared to other communities. The SRT runs through the county's most urbanized areas in Pottstown and Norristown, each of which has significant minority populations and concentrations of poverty, among other indicators. The Pennypack Trail, one the county's newest trails, runs through and near areas with growing Asian and Eastern European populations,” according to the planning commission
“The communities adjacent to the trail network are not always well integrated with the trail system,” and a major barrier to trail access is a lack of wayfinding signs to trail access points, the 134-page study found. Also, “it is important to provide safe and accessible connections that permit all potential users to access the trail from within the community.”
Originally designed simply for recreational use, people are increasingly using trails as a way to commute by bicycle. Further, “the widespread adoption of e-bikes, and the desire to accommodate the needs of an aging population, people with disabilities, and non-English speaking populations all present unique challenges to designing an inclusive trail system,” according to the planning commission.
As a way to address that challenge, the planning commission took a close look at three different trail areas identified by census tracts as having high populations demographics of those the trail does not typically serve.
They are:
1. Schuylkill River Trail Norristown — Spring Mill Road to Port Indian Road.
An analysis of the demographic information in the Norristown area indicate the borough's population in 42 percent white, 36 percent Black and 3 percent Asian, with 28 percent identifying as being ethnically Hispanic. “As compared to the Greater Philadelphia Region as a whole, census tracts adjacent to the trail corridor have a ‘well above average' percentage of Hispanic residents (over 35 percent), residents with Limited English Proficiency (over 19 percent), and lowincome residents (over 59 percent).
2. Schuylkill River Trail Pottstown — Borough of Pottstown. According to the data, Pottstown's population is 69 percent white, 21 percent Black, 0.8 percent Asian, with 8 percent identifying as being ethnically Hispanic. Census data shows the percentage of residents with one or more physical and or/mental disabilities (over 19 percent) is above average. The percent of low income households (over 45 percent) is also above the average for the region.
3. Pennypack Trail Study Area — from Lorimer Park in Abington Township to Byberry Road, Upper Moreland
Township. Census data along the trail here includes three census tracts showing well above average percentages of older adults (over 32 percent) living along the trail corridor, and above average percentages of residents born outside of the United States (over 19 percent) in two census tracts, compared to the region.
The county's goals are to increase the diversity of trail users; increase the awareness, visibility, and ease of access to the county trail system; and, to modernize trail designs to take into account the changing, diverse needs of the communities they pass through.
The plan goes into great detail on how to accomplish these goals, citing specific improvements to improve access, ramps to replace stairs, better, less confusing signs, improved safety and an absence of “pop-up” events and good “trail etiquette” in Norristown.
In Pottstown, access problems include the set of Riverfront Park steps connecting the trail to South Hanover Street; limited wayfinding signs along the corridor; a lack of awareness of the trail; no bi-lingual signs.
Along the Pennypack, an “inadequate” bike repair station and a lack of access to fresh water and more benches in the high senior population area, were all identified.
Solutions identified include a unified and more abundant system of onstreet and on-trail signs on all county trails; informational mailers sent to homes of underserved residents, which have been found to be more effective than social media or email; improve sidewalk connections and ensure all access points are accessible to the handicapped. Programming changes include more and more diverse events meant to attract a more diverse population and introduce them to the trail
One unanticipated result of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the increased awareness and use brought about without any improve signage or programming at all.
Trail “counts in Montgomery County cited at least double the number of users compared to previous years,” according to the plan.
“The idea that people who had never used the trail before were open to exploring this option is encouraging,” the plan's authors wrote. “It is now time to expand the vision to ensure that residents of all ages and backgrounds are aware that the trails are available to them, and that they feel safe while using the trail.”
Although trails are popular with the people you would expect, “cyclists, runners, and dog walkers, it is clear from this plan's findings that there is untapped potential for use by non-traditional user groups. To be a truly equitable amenity, it is imperative that trail design incorporates the recommendations contained within this plan.”