Cycle Tourism Regional Research Project 2016 Counters: An Important Part of Methodology

Transcription

1 Cycle Tourism Regional Research Project 2016 Counters: An Important Part of Methodology National Bicycle Tourism Conference November Transportation Options

2 ONTARIO, CANADA

3 What We Do Province-wide program to promote & develop cycle tourism Destination & Product Development Consulting Cycle Tourism & Event Research Industry Standards & Certification Program Ont ari o By Bik e Net wor k Promote Cycling & Cycle Tourism to Consumers Network of 1,250+ Businesses & Organizations Industry Workshops & Operator Training Travel Shows & Cycling Events

4 Cycle Tourism Research No overarching reliable up-to-date data available 2011: 1.6 M Canadian visitors participating in cycling in Ontario, spending $317 M 2009 to 2010: 25% increase in Canadian visitors participating in cycling in Ontario, 18% increase in spending Numerous studies and research (Ontario & elsewhere) undertaken by Ontario By Bike / Transportation Options available online: Recently Available From Niche to Now 2015 Cycle Tourism Conference Report 2016 Recently Undertaken by Partners Bruce Grey Simcoe; Haliburton; Niagara Also Velo Quebec & Travel Oregon Challenging and expensive to undertake

5 2016 Cycle Tourism Research Project 3 Participating Sub Regions in Ontario RTO1 Windsor Essex RTO3 Halton Region RTO9 Prince Edward County Methodology: Trail counts; Intercept interviews; Business surveys; Cycling event impact survey; Marketing reach; Other Partners: RTO s / DMO s, Regional municipality; Ministry of Tourism Culture & Sport - Province of Ontario; RMCG Inc; Eco-Counter Complete by November 2016 Regional template development

6 Methodology: Trail Counts & Intercepts Trail Counts Eco-Counter Mobile TUBES were installed by County or Municipal staff, on a mix of country roads and trails used by cyclists Count periods ranged from 4 to 6 weeks. Each region had a minimum of 2 count locations set. Data was analysed using Eco-Visio, Eco-Counters online platform, specifically designed to analyze cyclist count data. Cyclists Intercept Surveys To learn more about cyclists on routes, intercept interviews were conducted at most count locations for 3 to 4 hour periods. Survey contained 4+ questions. Collected data on: Direction, party size, postal code, distance from home range, day vs overnight trip, number of overnights. Limitations were small sample size of cycling parties and number of survey times Surveys were intended to capture a profile of cyclists at each counter location and sense of cycling market. They were not intended to be a full representative sample, as that was not included as part of the project.

7 Trail Counter: Roy A Battagello River Walk, Windsor Waterfront Placed on off-road multi-use 8km paved trail following river. Nearby attractions include: Downtown Windsor, parkland, sculpture park, scenic views of Windsor, river and Detroit, casino, Ambassador Bridge. Total number of cyclists during 6 week period: 44,222 Average count per week: 7,370 (Busiest day Sunday) Daily count range: 434 to 1,785 Weekday average: 1,045 Weekend average: 1,072 Based on 6 week period (08/08/ /09/2016). Count=number of cyclists riding in either direction. No sizeable difference in counts by direction. WINDSOR / ESSEX COUNTY

8 Cyclists on the Windsor Waterfront Interviewed 62 cycling parties, 83 cyclists total, on September 9 th (Fri), 10 th (Sat) and 16 th (Fri) to capture a sense of the cycling market: 78 of 83 cyclists surveyed were local cyclists and on trail for day trip, 5 were visitors from >40km This trail is heavily used throughout week by commuters and recreational cyclists 37 of 83 cyclists were in party size of 2 or more Cyclists visiting from >100km were staying 3 to 4+ nights Trail is part of the Lake Erie Waterfront Trail, 1,600km signed route across Ontario During these periods, trail attracted cyclists for multiple night cycling trips from central/southwestern Ontario: Toronto, Hamilton, Kitchener. One cyclists was from Costa Rica. There were no cyclists from U.S. WINDSOR / ESSEX COUNTY

9 Trail Counter: Chrysler Greenway, near Kingsville Placed on off-road multi-use unpaved well maintained trail, popular with cyclists. Nearby attractions include: wineries, Lake Erie, Pelee Island, Kingsville, Leamington, Point Pelee National Park. Total number of cyclists during 6 week count period: 5,154 Average count per week: 859 (Busiest day Sunday) Daily count range: 57 to 190 Weekday average: 115 Weekend average: 141 Based on 6 week period (20/06/ /07/2016). Count=number of cyclists riding in either direction. No sizeable difference in counts by direction. WINDSOR / ESSEX COUNTY

10 Cyclists on the Chrysler Greenway Interviewed 9 cycling parties, 13 cyclists total, on Sunday August 28, to capture a sense of the cycling market: 11 of 13 cyclists were local cyclists, and on trail for day trip Party size ranged from 1 to 3 cyclists 2 cyclists visiting from >100km were staying multiple nights Trail attracted limited visitors during this time period. The one party of 2 visiting cyclists were from, out of province, Alberta. WINDSOR / ESSEX COUNTY

11 Trail Counter: Lakeshore West, Trail West of Oakville Placed on off-road multi-use paved trail, part of Waterfront Trail. Trail runs parallel to frequently used road route. Nearby attractions include: Downtown Oakville, Lake Ontario, Bronte Creek, Bronte Provincial Park, Shell Park. Total number of cyclists during 5 week period: 3,487 Average count per week: 697 (Busiest day Sunday) Daily count range: 39 to 207 Weekday average: 91 Weekend average: 121 Based on 5 week period (20/06/ /07/2016). Count=number of cyclists riding in either direction. No sizeable difference in counts by direction. HALTON REGION

12 Cyclists on the Lakeshore West trail, Oakville Interviewed 26 cycling parties, 39 cyclists total, on July 22th (Fri), July 24 th (Sat) to capture a sense of the cycling market: 33 of 39 interviewed were local cyclists and were on trail for day trip 25 of 39 cyclists were in party sizes of 2 or more Cyclists may choose to use parallel road route with paved shoulder, popular with experienced cyclists or those on longer distances or training Trail is part of the Lake Ontario Waterfront Trail, 1,600km signed route across Ontario 4 of 6 cyclists visiting from >100km were staying overnight Trail attracted several out of province cyclists during this period: 2 cyclists from Quebec, 1 from B.C. All visiting cyclists were heading west. HALTON REGION

13 Trail Counter: Beachway Waterfront Trail, Burlington Placed on off-road multi-use paved trail, running parallel and just behind long stretch of busy beach area, close to downtown. Nearby attractions include: Downtown Burlington, beach, parks, lift bridge, Hamilton, Lake Ontario. Total number of cyclists during 6 week period: 53,675 Average count per week: 4,473 (Busiest day Sunday) Daily count range per direction: 159 to 1,178 Weekday average: 547 Weekend average: 869 Based on 6 week period (01/08/ /09/2016). Count=number of cyclists riding in either direction. No sizeable difference in counts by direction. Permanent counter installation, count data shared by City of Burlington, cyclists and pedestrian counts. HALTON REGION

14 Cyclists on the Beachway Trail, Burlington Interviewed 56 cycling parties, 92 cyclists total, August 6 to 14, to capture a sense of the cycling market: 71 of 92 interviewed were local cyclists, and on trail for day trip 60 of 92 cyclists were in party sizes of 2 or more 21 of 92 cyclists were visiting from km, none staying overnight 4 cyclists were visiting from >100km. One party of 2 international visitors were staying 10+ days on trip Trail is part of the Lake Ontario Waterfront Trail, 1,600km signed route across Ontario Trail is heavily used, by cyclists, and also pedestrians. During this period, while most cyclists were local, there are cyclists from GTHA, and surrounding areas in south western Ontario. There was 1 party of 2 cyclists from B.C. and another party of 2 cyclists from Switzerland. HALTON REGION

15 Trail Counter: 15 th Sideroad, West of 3 rd Line, Halton Hills Placed on quiet country paved road, a part of Halton Region cycling routes: Heat Map 100 (100km loop) and Limehouse Loop (60km). Popular training routes and area. Nearby attractions include: Conservation Areas - Kelso & Rattlesnake, the Escarpment, Velodrome, hamlet villages, towns of Action, Georgetown, Milton. Total number of cyclists during 6 week period: 3,686 Average count per week: 614 total (Busiest day Sunday) Daily count range per direction: 1 to 1,059 Weekday average: 60 Weekend average: 156 Based on 6 week period (29/08/ /10/2016). Count=number of cyclists riding in either direction. No sizeable difference in counts by direction. HALTON REGION

16 Cyclists on 15 th Sideroad, Halton Hills Interviewed 13 cycling parties, 52 cyclists on Sunday September 18, to capture a sense of the cycling market: 26 of 52 interviewed were visiting from >40km 3 cyclists visiting from >100km were all staying overnight, with friends or family Large training groups of cyclists made up party sizes, very few solo riders Road is also part of the Greenbelt Route, a 475km cycling route is from Niagara to Cobourg EPIC Tour Halton cycling event saw 1,059 cyclists pass counter on Sunday, Sept. 11. During this period, road route was heavily used by club and training riders day tripping from GTHA and surrounding areas and locals. Club riders intercepted included: Caledon Hills and Brampton cycling clubs, and Toronto Bicycle Network. HALTON REGION

17 Trail Counter: Country Road 18, Prince Edward County Placed on quiet country paved road close to Sandbanks Provincial Park. Road included on several mapped looped routes in area. Nearby attractions include: Sandbanks Provincial Park, beaches, dunes, Lake Ontario, wineries, culinary and cultural attractions, towns of Wellington, Bloomfield, Picton. Total number of cyclists during 4 week period: 543 Average count per week: 136 (Busiest day Sunday) Daily count range: 3 to 72 Weekday average: 14 Weekend average: 32 Based on 4 week period (02/09/ /09/2016). Count=number of cyclists riding in either direction. No sizeable difference in counts by direction. PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY

18 Cyclists on County Road 18, Prince Edward County Based on data analysed from: trail counts; Ontario Parks, Park Statistics Report 2010; Park Superintendent anecdotal comments No interview survey samples available for this location Counter located near front gate of 4 th most popular provincial park in Ontario, with over 600,000 annual visitors, and 549 campsites. Park recently upgraded inpark trail network and increased cycling facilities. Park noting anecdotal increase in number of visitors arriving with bikes, particularly visitors from Quebec. Majority of cyclists passing counter were doing so earlier in day (9 to noon most frequent) but also steady, although lower counts, through out day. There were more weekend cyclists, with counts double that of weekdays. Significant long weekend number of cyclists (e.g. Labour Day weekend) Counter set in September, after peak summer season, which may have affected count data. September weekend weather impacted number of cyclists. PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY

19 Trail Counter: Loyalist Parkway, Between Wellington and Bloomfield Interviewed 10 cycling parties, 14 cyclists on July 24 & 31 (Sun), to capture a sense of the cycling market: 10 of 14 cyclists were visiting from >40km, including 6 cyclists visiting from >100km away Overnight stays in the County ranged from 1 to 2 nights, those cyclists from >100km all stayed overnight Loyalist Parkway is part of the Lake Ontario Waterfront Trail, 1,600km signed route across Ontario Local cyclists travelled in parties of 1, most were experienced riders training There were 2 parties, 3 long distance cyclists riding for up to 7 nights, with planned stops on their route in Prince Edward County. One party had a support vehicle with vacationing family following riders. During this period, cyclists were all from Ontario: St Catharines and GTHA in west, Cornwall and Ottawa in the east. Count data collected but deemed unusable due to equipment malfunction PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY

20 Louisa Mursell, Executive Director Phone: / lmursell@transportationoptions.org 2016 Transportation Options