Greenways and Crime
Probably the single greatest concern voiced about having a Greenway in one's neighborhood or on one's property is the fear that recreational trails and other types of greenways cause crime, vandalism and other disturbances.
Evidence supports that greenway trails produce no disturbance to private landowners.
A 1980 study by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources compared landowners attitudes on a pair of proposed trails with landowner attitudes along a pair of similar trails already established.
- On the proposed trails 75% of landowners thought the trail would mean more vandalism and other crimes.
- On already existing trails, virtually no landowners agreed with the statement "trail-users steal".
A 1987 study of Seattle's Burke-Gilman Trail found
- Little or no crime or vandalism experienced by adjacent property owners.
- Realtors found property "near" the trail was significantly easier to market and sold for an average of 6% more than similar off-trail properties.
- Nearly two-thirds of adjacent andowners believed that the trail "increased the quality of life in the neighborhood", and not a single resident thought the trail should be closed.
- A former opponent of the trail (whose home is on the trail and was invloved in citizens groups again the trail) stated after the trail was built that the trail is very positive with fewer problems, less litter and beer cans and vagrants than before construction.
- Not a single resident surveyed said that present conditions were worse than prior to construction of the trail.
A 1992 study by the National Park Service reported
- Majority of property owners experienced no increase in problems since the trails opened.
- Living near trails was better than they had expected it to be
- Concerns for vandalism, robbery and safety concerns were unfounded (Landowner on California's Lafayette/Moraga Trail)
- "I was originally opposed but I am very pleased with the trail - it provides a safe alternative to using the highway for joggers and bicyclists, and it gives me a safe and comfortable place for my walks." (Adjacent landowner on Florida's St. Mark's Trail)
- "We are a small town (Durango) and most everyone uses the trail at one time or another. They all like it very much." - (Public Official on Iowa's Heritage Trail)
A 1988 survey of greenways in several states has found
- No serious problems regarding ... vandalism, crime, trespass, [or] invasion of privacy ... although prior to developing park facilities, these concerns were strongly voiced in opposition to proposed trails.
For those concerned that green spaces may foster crime and illegal activity, evidence now exists that the opposite may be true. When adjacent to residential areas, green spaces have been shown to create neighborhoods with fewer violent and property crimes and where neighbors tend to support and protect one another. These are the findings of scientists at the Human-Environment Research Laboratory of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign who studied green space alongside public housing in Chicago. Other researchers who are conducting similar studies across the country are finding similar results.
Crime drops when parks and recreation are provided in inner cities. But the question remains, "How do the kids travel safely from their home to the basketball court?"
They could travel on a "Safewalk." Such a crime free linear corridor can be created by a local community to connect crime watch neighborhoods with playgrounds, stores, schools or basketball courts.
A Safewalk is simply a route which is designed to be safe, attractive, and, most importantly, used. The Safewalk might follow a sidewalk, go through an alley, cross a street, and run alongside a river. Even just three blocks is enough to start a Safewalk.
Reference: http://www.plannersweb.com/wfiles/w539.html
Crime statistics and reports from law enforcement officials indicate that parks and greenways are typically land uses with the lowest incident of reported criminal activity. Greenways have proven to be effective in encouraging local residents to participate in neighborhood watch programs. Increased neighborhood awareness by citizens and participation in neighborhood watch programs have proven to be some of the most successful deterrents to criminal activity.
- Landowners along trails in rural Iowa, Tallahassee, Florida and San Francisco, California reported that their proximity
to the trails had not adversely affected the desirability of their properties.
- Homes immediately adjacent to a trail in Seattle did not experience an increase in burglaries or vandalism.
- A study of trails in Denver showed that no public safety issues could be directly linked to the presence of the trails.
- In Wisconsin, evidence gathered led to the conclusion that the presence of a recreation trail does not cause an increase
in crime rates. In fact, police records of lands located along one popular trail indicated that no crimes had been
reported by landowners along the trail.
Greenways typically attract local residents, who use the facility frequently, creating an environment that is virtually self-policing.
Do bike paths cause crime? Eugene, Oregon fought the battle of this issue on both fronts for years. It pitted a pro-bicycle faction against hostile private property owners.
Greenway trails, like public schools, can be unfairly labeled as violent locations. Diligent research can show otherwise, and preventive design work can improve safety. A number of studies have now shown that urban greenway trails do not increase crime and, in fact, are commonly regarded as improvements by adjacent property owners.
Read the whole story at: http://www.bicyclecommuter.com/SellingSkeptics.htm
