Study: Swamp Rabbit Trail Benefits Businesses

Rails to Trails projects have much in the news recently, as supporters and opponents of a proposed trail connecting Pickens and Easley via the old Pickens Railroad line have been vocal with their opinions regarding the project.

Recently, Furman University professor Dr. Julian Reed shared with Greater Easley Chamber of Commerce members some of the positive impacts that the Swamp Rabbit Trail has had in the Greenville and Travelers Rest area.

Reed conducted a study on the impact of the trail in its first year. The report on the second year of trail use should be out at the end of this year, he said.

“We're looking at trying to make Easley more bicycle and pedestrian friendly,” said Councilman Chris Mann, who chairs the city's Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee.

“This is a project that the City of Easley and our town council is 100 percent behind,” said Mayor Larry Bagwell.

City Administrator Fox Simons said that people on both sides on the issue were “throwing arrows” at one another regarding the proposed Doodle Line trail.

“I hope and I pray that that stops. That's not doing anybody any good,” he said. “We're one community, and I think we can get through this if everyone just steps back and takes a deep breath and remembers that. There's a lot of stuff floating around in the community, that's a little bothersome to me, frankly.”

The Swamp Rabbit Trail has “put us on the map,” said Lisa Hallo with conservation organization Upstate Forever.

“People come to Greenville to see the Swamp Rabbit Trail,” she said. “If you've jogged along it, if you've walked along it, you will see the impacts that it has had. It's great to have that hard data, but you don't necessarily have to have that hard data to see what a major and wonderful resource that has become for the community – and it can be the same here.”

Hallo said when the rail line that became the Swamp Rabbit Trail first became available, there were the same concerns in that community that there are in the Pickens County area concerning the Doodle Line.

“And rightfully so,” she said. “It's a large project, it's a large investment potentially of funds and of time, and all angles should be considered. Back then, community leaders had the foresight to look to what a wonderful community resource that could be and they made that project happen.”

Reed shared the findings of a report he authored regarding the first year of Swamp Rabbit Trail use.

The third year of the study began this summer, Reed said.

The study is based on direct observation, intercept surveys of users, focus groups, and business interviews, he said.

An estimated 359,000 users used the trail during the first year of the study, Reed said.

“That's a lot of use,” he said.

Most of those users, 86 percent, were bicycle riders, he said.

45 percent of users were observed on Saturdays, 25 percent on Sundays.

“We were able to go back to businesses that were not necessarily open on Sundays or open later on Sundays and say, 'Hey, here's what we're observing, you might want to adjust your hours on Sundays or even stay open longer on Saturdays, considering the majority of the use is on the weekends,'” Reed said.

In the first year of the study, business owners within 250 yards of trail access points were asked about impacts to their businesses.

Businesses surveyed included restaurants, general retail and specialty retail.

“Most businesses reported increases in sales/revenue ranging from 30 percent to as high as 85 percent,” Reed said. “One business decided to open as a result of the trail being built. One business reported changing location because they desired to be closer to the trail and observed a 30 percent increase in sales.

“In restaurants, the average ticket item was $6-11 per transaction,” he said.

In year two of the study, bike shop within city limits were surveyed, as well as restaurants, general and specialty retail.

“Most businesses reported increases in sales revenue ranging from 5 percent to as high as as 100 percent, the average was 47 percent,” Reed said. “Multiple businesses decided to open as a result of the trail being built. They said, 'Hey, there's users here. I see a business opportunity.'”

More businesses reported changing location to be closer to the trail and observed a 30-50 percent increase in sales

Annual revenue from Swamp Rabbit trail users ranged from $50,000 to $400,000.

“The average was $111,000,” Reed said.

Safety is a priority on the trail, he said.

“We have not had one reported incident related to crime on the trail,” Reed said. “Not one. Can I say there's never going to be something happen? No, but I can't say that walking down the street right now. There's always a risk of something happening related to crime, but we're not finding that. People feel very safe.”

Survey participants are asked their opinion of the safety of the trail. “Excellent” is the most frequently cited answer, Reed said.

“People feel very comfortable on the trail in terms of security and from a safety standpoint,” he said.

Users also feel the trail is well-maintained.

Reed said a police officer is on the trail 80-85 hours a week, but that users themselves also enforce the rules.

He said property values typically go up in areas near trails and cited several national studies on trails' impact on property values.

“People want to be closer to that amenity,” he said.

“The Impact of Greenways on Property Values: Evidence from Austin, Texas” published in the Journal of Leisure Research suggested that greenways may increase nearby properties' sales price by as much as 20 percent.

A 2002 survey of homebuyers conducted by the National Association of Homebuilders and the National Association of Realtors indicated that walking/jogging and bike trails rank “important to very important” behind highway access.

“Trails consistently rank in the top five important amenities in making real estate purchases,” Reed said. “This is real data suggesting what greenways can do.”

Trails such as Swamp Rabbit can not only be a boon economically, they can help lower health care costs for residents.

“The Center for Disease Control says the best way to lower health care costs is more physical activity,” Reed said. “Obesity on average costs each household in America $1,800; it doesn't matter if you're healthy or not healthy. Diabetes - $6,000 (per household). So not only can this have a direct impact when we're talking about local businesses, but an indirect impact on the health of your local community.”