Current User Trends One source of available data that estimates how many people are using Hillsborough County greenways is the County ’ s Hiking Spree participation. This program, started in 2018, encourages Hillsborough County resi- dents to experience at least eight different greenway facilities during the winter. Upon completion of a form reporting which greenways were used, participants receive a patch. The data, shown in Figure 44 below, reflects those who both participated in the Hiking Spree program and self - reported to the County. This is only one source of user data and does not reflect all greenway users or types of greenways. The Hiking Spree program typically runs from January through March, at a time when weather is most pleasant for greenway use. The below figure shows program par- ticipation. It should be noted that COVID - 19 likely im- pacted participation. In addition, the County acquired and analyzed data shared by users of mobile device applications – to ex- plore bicyclist and pedestrian travel behavior on paved trails in 2021. The data suggested that individu- al trails are used for trips to schools during weekdays and recreational trips on weekends. Data suggested that trails with independent alignments away from a roadway tended to be more popular on weekends,
The Hillsborough County Hiking Spree appeals to all ages.
while trails adjacent to roadways, or sidepaths, were generally more popular on weekdays. More detailed data collection and analysis would need to be con- ducted to better understand various trends associated with individual trails.
Figure 44. Annual Hiking Spree Program Participation, 2018 - 2022
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0
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HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY GREENWAYS AND TRAILS MASTER PLAN
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