Annual Count & Survey of San José Trails

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TRAIL COUNT

Annual Count & Survey of San José Trails With Supplemental Covid-19 Survey (Appendix A) 2020

Trail Count 2020

Trail Count 2020 was conducted under unique circumstances not previously encountered. Volunteers and staff recorded a large decrease in users at most count stations. It is anticipated this is related to the current world health pandemic, Covid-19, the Santa Clara County Shelter-In-Place Order, and the prominent wildfires throughout California and the Bay Area during the week of Trail Count 2020. Ranging between 50 (Moderate Levels) to 150 (Unhealthy Levels for Sensitive Groups), the air quality experienced by trail users during the day of Trail Count 2020 influenced how many people used the trail network. However, seeing the number of people still accessing the trails during these conditions shows the value and daily need of the San Jose Trail Network to provide opportunities for active transportation and recreation.

For 2020, the annual Trail Count Survey in alignment with Trail Count Day, received 78 responses. This is low compared to prior years. This reduced amount of responses may be related to the fact that over 300 trail users completed a special survey in June 2020 related to Covid-19 and the County’s Shelter-In-Place Order (for more information, see Appendix A at the end of this report). Having only recently completed a survey within the last three months, trail users may have been less likely to respond to the Annual Trail Count Survey.

The following Summary Report shares the purpose and process behind Trail Count, specific findings per trail system, and overall findings based on the San Jose Trail Network. Common themes received from survey respondents centered around the need for increased trail safety and maintenance.

Data Collection with a Purpose Trail Count is an annual count and survey conducted along San José Trails. The volunteer-supported effort accomplishes four goals: 1) Document the volume of trail usage with per day and annual figures; 2) Improve trail development (planning and design) for future trails; 3) Improve operations of built trails (maintenance and event coordination); and 4) Improve capability to obtain grant funding for stronger fiscal sustainability.

Trail Count was initiated in 2007 to document the impact of trail closures due to downtown’s frequent and large-scale special events. City staff, partnering with the Guadalupe River Park Conservancy and Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition, sought to show that frequent closures were disruptive to a larger number of trail users and could discourage greater use of the trail systems. Trail Count data supported engagement with the City Council’s Transportation and Environment Committee (T&E) to refine and promote a Trail Closure Process.

The result of this collaborative process decreased the amount of closures, required early coordination to limit impacts to users, and established protocols for early public notification of unavoidable closures. Staff continue to work carefully with the Special Events Permit Unit, Valley Water, and contractors to coordinate detours and closures early to reduce impacts to the trail user to the greatest extent possible.

This annual effort to collect data can also help prioritize projects, shape policy or change the approach to design. A few years ago, San Jose reached the milestone of collecting data for 10 years. After next year’s 2021 Trail Count, staff, with the foundational support of volunteers, will have achieved 15 years of data collection. Below, are just a few noteworthy insights gained over the past 14 years:

• Gap closure projects have a significant impact (86% increase with the completion of Guadalupe River Trail’s Airport Parkway Under-Crossing); • Build trails and they will come (422% more trail users along Guadalupe River Trail as the system was paved and extended); • Highly-used trails may encourage more women to use trails (the percentage of women using trails increased from 26% in 2008 to 35.5% in 2020); • The number of people accessing the trails for health and fitness purposes has increased from 36% in 2008 to 50% in 2020); and • The rate of active transportation dropped noticeably in 2020 (The presumption is that with a major shift to "work from home" due to the County's Shelter-in- Place Order, fewer people are commuting daily to work sites).

The Trail Program has been substantially funded by external grant sources. Many grant programs require documentation of project outcomes. Grant programs administered by the Bay Area Quality Management District and State Programs such as the Active Transportation Program require before and after data only available through efforts like Trail Count. With over $40,000,000 in awarded grant funds since 2003, San Jose’s annual Trail Count continues to advance the City’s goal of fiscal sustainability.

50% HEALTH & FITNESS is primary reason for using San José Trails 30% for Recreation 13% for Active Transportation* 7% Other

*Active Transportation percentages may be lower than normal due to the large increase of employees working from home, arising from the County’s Shelter-In-Place Order.

Data Collection Method Volunteers used the following tools:

• Count Sheet: The count sheet records usage in 15-minute increments. The sheet provides space to identify pedestrians, bicyclists and other users (equestrian, electric scooters, etc.). Volunteers are asked to record unusual conditions (special event traffic, large groups such as high school track teams, etc.). Count sheets use graphics to reinforce and clarify the definition of bicyclists (unicycles included) and pedestrians (wheelchairs and Segways included, as defined by California State Law). • Survey Card: Not used due to current situation surrounding Covid-19. • Social Media Engagement: For 2020, in response to Covid-19, staff and volunteers did not distribute hard copy survey cards, but rather promoted the survey through social media outlets and email engagement to volunteers, partners, advocates, and users accessing the trails on the day of Trail Count. The survey deadline was extended until Thursday, September 24. • Instructions: Emails are sent to all volunteers providing instructions on how to complete and return the count data. Options for submitting the data included email and text message. Due to precautions around Covid-19, in-person delivery was not included as an option this year. For 2020, all count sheets were photographed and sent via text message or email to the Trail Analyst. All count sheets were gathered and documented by Wednesday, September 16. • Support: The Trail Manager, Senior Analyst and Volunteer Program Manager visited all sites throughout the day to respond to questions, and to encourage and thank the volunteers.

Trail Count volunteers bearing with a strange weather day. Los Gatos Creek Trail pictured left and Guadalupe River Trail pictured right.

Date Selection and Count Periods San José Trail Program staff have consistently conducted counts in mid- September as recommended by the National Pedestrian and Bicycle Documentation project (NPBD). This time of the year is desirable for counts for the following reasons: 1. School is in session; 2. Weather is mild with rain unlikely; 3. Daylight hours extend past 6:00 pm; and 4. Several State grants are due in the fall making data collection timely.

The NPBD recommends a one-day count and suggests it occur between September 9 and 15. San José’s Trail Count 2020 occurred on Wednesday, September 9. San José’s Trail Count has occurred on Wednesdays in September since its initiation in 2007.

In 2020, the fourteenth annual Trail Count included eleven count stations:

• Seven stations were monitored for a 12-hour count period from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm (This 12-hour period is recommended by the NPBD); • One station was monitored for eight hours (Three Creeks Trail at Willow Street); and • Three count stations were monitored during morning peak hours (7:00 am to 9:00 am) and evening peak hours (4:00 pm to 7:00 pm) due to limited resources and anticipated low volumes of below 200 counts (Coyote Creek Trail at Stonegate Park, Los Gatos Creek Trail at Auzerais Avenue, and Thompson Creek Trail near Tully Road).

Sustaining stations for over a decade has created a robust data set that offers Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services (PRNS) Planners unique insights and guidance for improving projects and has made San José well-recognized as a resource for pedestrian and bicycle data.

Over the years, the Trail Count data set has been shared with agencies to support research: • University of Texas - Dallas • Rails to Trails Conservancy • Metropolitan Transportation Commission

Count Stations Ideally, the City would establish count stations across the entire Trail Network, but limited staff time, volunteers and resources focus data collection on a limited number of sites. Staff has sustained count stations along the Guadalupe River Trail since the first Trail Count in 2007. This trail system is one of the largest systems in the Network, extending from downtown through Silicon Valley, and is

defined as a Core Trail in the Network (i.e. a primary, long-distance route that extends past varied land uses). Over time, staff has added additional count stations. In 2008, staff added the two stations along Los Gatos Creek Trail and in 2012, the count station at Los Alamitos was incorporated into the annual tradition. Additional short-term or permanent stations have also been added throughout the years.

The strategy for adding short-term or permanent stations has been: • Document popular regional systems (Guadalupe River Trail, Los Gatos Creek Trail, Coyote Creek Trail, and Los Alamitos Creek Trail); • Document the value and impact of upcoming trail extensions (Coyote Creek Trail, Los Gatos Creek Trail at Auzerais Avenue, Thompson Creek Trail, and Three Creeks Trail); • Obtain data needed to submit compelling grant applications to fund the design and construction of projects; and • Support community groups that wish to advocate for trail development or operational changes (Five Wounds Trail and Communications Hill Trail).

Trail Network map with current and prior count station locations:

The eleven stations established for Trail Count 2020 are:

1. Coyote Creek Trail at Selma Olinder Park (New Site): Volunteers conducted a 12-hour count at this station. This station is located at Selma Olinder Park at a picnic table setting, west of Woodborough Drive, adjacent to the Coyote Creek Trail. For its first year of Trail Count, 225 people were counted.

2. Coyote Creek Trail at Stonegate Park (New Site): Volunteers conducted morning and evening peak hour counts at this station. This station at located at Stonegate Park at a picnic table setting, just west of Gassman Drive, adjacent to the Coyote Creek Trail. For its first year of Trail Count, 66 people were counted.

3. Five Wounds Trail at Olinder Dog Park (New Site): Volunteers conducted a 12-hour count at this station. This station is located at Olinder Dog Park, south of Woodborough Drive, adjacent to Coyote Creek Trail. For its first year of Trail Count, 206 people were counted.

4. Guadalupe River Trail at Coleman Avenue: Volunteers conducted a 12-hour count at this station. The station is several hundred feet north of the Guadalupe River Park Conservancy’s Visitor’s Center, along the lower main trail through the Guadalupe River Park & Gardens. Since 2015, the station usually serves between 900 and 1,000 persons daily, however, 2020, showed unique results. Counting 489 people, volume was down by 44.8% from 2019.

5. Guadalupe River Trail at Riverpark Towers: Volunteers conducted a 12- hour count at this station. This station was established in 2017 along the Riverpark Towers plaza. The station is centrally located in Downtown. It replaced a station at nearby Park Avenue which was retired after a decade of use because of multiple access points that complicated the count process. The Riverpark Towers station supports more accurate counts with a single trail alignment. In 2017, volunteers were counting persons on the trail and nearby pedestrian bridge that spans the river. The bridge may support trail usage, but it also serves persons walking to and from the nearby office towers. Last year in 2019, guidance was provided to only count persons on the trail, directly in front of the station to provide a more precise trail-specific count. For 2020, with 136 people counted, volume was down by 76.1% compared to 2019.

6. Guadalupe River Trail at River Oaks Parkway: Volunteers conducted a 12- hour count at this station. This station consistently reports the highest volumes. Persons are counted traveling along the east bank trail and the perpendicular River Oaks Parkway bridge that links the Rivermark Neighborhood to the North First Street Light Rail and bus service. With 1,564 people counted, volume was down by 36.8% from last year. Aligning with historical trends, this count station still reported the highest volume for 2020.

7. Los Alamitos Creek near Camden Avenue: Volunteers conducted a 12-hour count at this station. The six-mile trail system links to Lake Almaden, Calero Creek and Guadalupe River Trails. The trail system travels through and along open space bounded by low-density residential development. With 722 people counted, volume was down by 18.0% from last year. Of the sites that showed a decrease in users during the unique context of 2020, this site showed the lowest rate of decreased usage.

8. Los Gatos Creek at Auzerais Avenue: Volunteers conducted morning and evening peak hour counts at this station. This reach of the regional trail system is currently disconnected from the larger system. The trail links Willow Glen (via Lonus Street, near Lincoln Avenue) to Midtown, a neighborhood to the west of Downtown. Del Monte Park borders a portion of the trail to the west and offers a public restroom, dog park, play fields, and soccer fields. This station continues to be managed in order to document the impact of a future bridge connection to Three Creeks Trail and extension of Los Gatos Creek Trail northward to Park Avenue via an under-crossing at the Caltrain tracks. Counting 87 people, volume was down by 49.1% from last year.

9. Los Gatos Creek at Hamilton Avenue: Volunteers conducted a 12-hour count at this station. The regional trail system extends nine miles from Meridian Avenue in San José, through Campbell and Los Gatos, and ends at the Lexington Reservoir Dam. Los Gatos Creek is recognized as one of Silicon Valley’s most popular trails. The trail is adjacent to employment (eBay), housing, retail (The Pruneyard) and park/open space. Counting 945 people, volume was down by 21.7% from last year.

10. Thompson Creek Trail at Tully Road (New site): Volunteers conducted morning and evening peak hour counts at this station. This station is located on the west bank of the creek, adjacent to the Safeway shopping center, south of Tully Road. For its first year of Trail Count, 29 people were counted. The addition of this count site is timely as it aligns with the recent award of VTA Measure B funds to construct the neighboring trail reach from Quimby Road to Aborn Court.

11. Three Creeks Trail at Willow Street: Volunteers conducted an 8-hour count at this station. The 0.8-mile landscaped trail was completed in August 2018, with a station in place for Trail Count 2018. For 2020, during its third year of Trail Count, 141 people were counted, showing a 15.6% increase in users. It should be noted that in 2019, data collection was limited to AM and PM periods, so the percentage increase for 2020 is based on comparing the same AM and PM periods from 2019. The new, expanded 8-hour time period for 2020 counted 241 total users.

Station Total Total Change Count (2019) (2020) Type Guadalupe at Coleman Ave 886 489 <44.8%> 12-hour Guadalupe at Riverpark Towers 568 136 <76.1%> 12-hour Guadalupe at River Oaks 2,474 1,564 <36.8%> 12-hour Los Alamitos at Camden 881 722 <18.0%> 12-hour Los Gatos at Hamilton Av e 1,207 945 <21.7%> 12-hour Los Gatos at Auzerais Ave 171 87 <49.1%> AM/PM Three Creeks at Willow St 122 241 15.6%* 8-hour Coyote Creek at Selma Olinder Park -- 225 New Site 12-hour Coyote Creek at Stonegate Park -- 66 New Site AM/PM Five Wounds at Olinder Dog Park -- 206 New Site 12-hour Thompson Creek at Tully Road -- 29 New Site AM/PM *See note about comparing like time periods between 2019 and 2020 in the Three Creeks Trail paragraph above.

Conditions In 2020, the weather was smoky and cloudy. During the week of Trail Count, unprecedented wildfires spread throughout California and the Bay Area. Temperatures ranged from the high 50’s in the early morning, high 60’s around noon, and back down to the low 60’s in the evening. Temperatures were recorded at 7:10 am, 12:20 pm, and 5:30 pm. With the air quality between 50 (Moderate Levels) to 150 (Unhealthy Levels for Sensitive Groups) throughout the week of Trail Count, a Spare the Air Alert was put in place for Santa Clara Valley. People were still seen accessing the trails for both commuting and recreational purposes, however, the weather was viewed as a potential barrier to trail usage, as shown in the picture of the skies above the Three Creeks Trail (Pictured right).

Screen captures of San Jose weather and Spare the Air Status on September 9, 2020.

Findings Over 4,700 trail users were counted at the eleven count stations this year. This is 1,600 fewer people than 2019, which had seven count stations gathering data. External factors, including weather, the Santa Clara Order to Shelter-In-Place, and a great concern about a global pandemic, may have negatively impacted the counts on September 9, 2020.

The online survey was open from September 9 to September 24 and obtained responses from 78 trail users. This was a large decrease from 2019, and it should be noted that a general decline has occurred since the high of 456 survey responses in 2016. Each year, people are typically encouraged to take the survey in person via small cards offered at count stations and postings via Social Media (Twitter and Instagram).

This year, due to the situation surrounding Covid-19, people were not handed survey cards. Staff shared the survey through social media posts on the City’s Trail Program webpage and through email promotion to advocates and champions (For example: Friends of Five Wounds Trail, Guadalupe River Park Conservancy, Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful, Save Our Trails, and the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition).

There are two factors that may explain the reduced number of surveys taken:

• To keep precautions related to Covid-19, volunteers did not physically hand out survey cards to the people using the trails on the day of trail count, and • Responses may have been limited because many trail users already completed the Interim Survey offered three months before.

The Annual Trail Count survey consisted of fifteen questions. As per prior years, the survey included questions regarding demographics, mode of travel, reason for trail use, and trail system(s) used. Like the 2018 and 2019 surveys, staff sought public input related to the Department’s five guiding principles (Stewardship, Nature, Equity & Access, Identity, and Public Life). The survey also asked what negatively impacts trail usage, as well as what would encourage increased use of the trail system.

The following table converts the data from 12-hour count stations to indicate the Annual Average Daily Traffic (based upon variations in use throughout the year) and the adjusted Annual Volume as derived from the Rails to Trails Conservancy’s Trail Traffic Calculator1.

https://www.railstotrails.org/our-work/research-and-information/trail-modeling-and-assessment- platform/trail-traffic-calculator/ 11

COUNT STATION Annual Avg Daily ANNUAL (12-hour count sites only) Traffic (AADT)* VOLUME* Coyote Creek at Selma Olinder 247.64 90,3 89 Five Wounds at Olinder Dog Park 233.63 85,275 Guadalupe at Coleman Avenue 548.34 200,144 Guadalupe at Riverpark Towers 155.95 56,922 Guadalupe at River Oaks Pkwy 1,667.97 608,809 Los Alamitos at Camden Avenue 837.49 305,684

Los Gatos at Hamilton Avenue 1,075.89 392,700

*The poor air quality on September 9, along with the County’s Shelter-In-Place Order may have influenced the number of people seen accessing the Trail Network. The air quality can be seen below in the picture of Los Gatos Creek Trail.

Survey Findings Per Trail System Survey data was sorted per trail system. The data presented in this section is for trail systems used by at least 20 survey respondents. The highest scores are noted with a ⭐ and show alignment to ActivateSJ, the Department’s 20-year strategic plan.

Coyote Creek Trail

Primary Reason for Using Trail Percentage Responses Health & Fitness 50% 21 Recreation (Fun) 28.5% 12 Active Transportation 12% 5 Other or Decline to State 9.5% 4

DEMOGRAPHICS: 62% Male / 36% Female / 2% Decline to State

IMPACTS: • General Maintenance (14%) • Landscape Maintenance - Low trees or encroaching shrubs (14%) • Litter (14%) • Pavement Condition (17%) • Other* (41%) *See page 32 for specific examples

ACCESS TO NATURE: • Viewed as “Very Important” or “Important” (81%) • Viewed as “Neither Important or Unimportant” (14%) • Viewed as “Unimportant” (5%)

ALIGNMENT: • Stewardship 6.3 ⭐ • Equity & Access 5.8 • Public Life 6.3 • Identity 6.3 • Nature 7.8

Guadalupe River Trail

Primary Reason for Using Trail Percentage Responses Health & Fitness 45% 21 Recreation (Fun) 32% 15

Active Transportation ⭐ 17% 8

Other or Decline to State 6% 3

DEMOGRAPHICS: 72% Male / 26% Female / 2% Decline to State

IMPACTS: • Seasonal Weeds (2%) • Landscape Maintenance - Low trees or encroaching shrubs (8.5%) • General Maintenance (10.5%) • Pavement Condition (15%) • Litter (17%) • Other* (47%) *See page 32 for specific examples

ACCESS TO NATURE: • Viewed as “Very Important” or “Important” (72%) • Viewed as “Neither Important or Unimportant” (21.5%) • Viewed as “Unimportant” (6.5%)

ALIGNMENT: Stewardship 5.9 Equity & Access 5.8 Public Life 5.8 Identity 6.0 Nature 7.3

Highway 87 Bikeway Trail

Primary Reason for Using Trail Percentage Responses Health & Fitness 52% 11 Recreation (Fun) 24% 5 Active Transportation 14% 3 Other or Decline to State 10% 2

DEMOGRAPHICS: 76% Male / 24% Female / 0% Decline to State

IMPACTS: • Landscape Maintenance - Low trees or encroaching shrubs (5%) • Pavement Condition (14%) • General Maintenance (19%) • Litter (19%) • Other* (43%) *See page 32 for specific examples

ACCESS TO NATURE: • Viewed as “Very Important” or “Important” (86%) • Viewed as “Neither Important or Unimportant” (14%) • Viewed as “Unimportant” (0%)

ALIGNMENT: • Stewardship 5.0 • Equity & Access 5.4 • Public Life 5.8 • Identity 6.0 • Nature 7.0

Los Alamitos Creek Trail

Primary Reason for Using Trail Percentage Responses

Health & Fitness ⭐ 62% 13

Recreation (Fun) 19% 4

Active Transportation 14% 3 Other or Decline to State 5% 1

DEMOGRAPHICS: 48% Male / 52% Female / 0% Decline to state

IMPACTS: • General Maintenance (9.5%) • Landscape Maintenance - Low trees or encroaching shrubs (9.5%) • Litter (14%) • Pavement Condition (24%) • Other* (43%) *See page 32 for specific examples

ACCESS TO NATURE: • Viewed as “Very Important” or “Important” (81%) • Viewed as “Neither Important or Unimportant” (14%) • Viewed as “Unimportant” (5%)

ALIGNMENT: Stewardship 5.8 Equity & Access 6.6 ⭐ Public Life 6.8 ⭐ Identity 7.0 ⭐ Nature 8.4 ⭐

Los Gatos Creek Trail

Primary Reason for Using Trail Percentage Responses Health & Fitness 51% 24 Recreation (Fun) 32% 15 Active Transportation 11% 5 Other or Decline to State 6% 3

DEMOGRAPHICS: 53% Male / 45% Female / 2% Decline to state

IMPACTS: • Seasonal Weeds (2%) • General Maintenance (11%) • Landscape Maintenance - Low trees or encroaching shrubs (11%) • Pavement Condition (11%) • Litter (17%) • Other* (49%) *See page 32 for specific examples [Note: Percentages are based on rounding to the nearest whole number]

ACCESS TO NATURE: • Viewed as “Very Important” or “Important” (79%) • Viewed as “Neither Important or Unimportant” (13%) • Viewed as “Unimportant” (6%) • Declined to state (2%)

ALIGNMENT: Stewardship 5.9 Equity & Access 5.9 Public Life 6.2 Identity 6.2 Nature 7.7

Three Creeks Trail

Primary Reason for Using Trail Percentage Responses Health & Fitness 46% 13 Recreation (Fun) ⭐ 36% 10 Active Transportation 11% 3 Other or Decline to State 7% 2

DEMOGRAPHICS: 71% Male / 25% Female / 4% Decline to state

IMPACTS: • General Maintenance (3.5%) • Seasonal Weeds (3.5%) • Landscape Maintenance - Low trees or encroaching shrubs (7%) • Litter (11%) • Pavement Condition (11%) • Other* (64%) *See page 32 for specific examples

ACCESS TO NATURE • Viewed as “Very Important” or “Important” (75%) • Viewed as “Neither Important or Unimportant” (14%) • Viewed as “Unimportant” (11%)

ALIGNMENT: • Stewardship 5.7 • Equity & Access 6.3 • Public Life 6.3 • Identity 6.7 • Nature 7.9

Q1. What is your age?

31.78% were over 55 per Trail Count 2018 46.75% were over 55 per Trail Count 2019 38.96% over 55 per Trail Count 2020

Q2. What is your gender?

2017 2018 2019 2020

Male 54.61 70.00 67.97 61.84 Female 43.64 28.93 29.41 35.53 Non-Binary 0.78 0.0 0.65 0.0 Decline to State 0.78 1.07 1.96 2.63

Q3. What is your zip code?

Survey responses show San Jose Trail Users come from across Santa Clara County, with San Joseans as the primary users of the network.

City Responses City Responses San Jose 63 Cupertino 1 Mountain View 3 Milpitas 1 Santa Clara 3 Morgan Hill 1 Campbell 2 Saratoga 1

Q4. Does proximity to a trail affect your decision in where you choose to live?

San Joseans value living close to trails:

“If a trail was closer to my house, I could do most of my ride on the trail, rather than on urban streets getting myself to the trail.”

“I have a trail close to my home that I can walk to. I wish everyone had a trail close enough to walk to.”

“I live next door to Los Gatos Creek Trail and I'm appreciating its beauty with the creek more.”

Q5. Do missing segments in the trail network affect how often you use the trail network?

Q6. Which San Jose trails do you use?

Other San Jose trails mentioned included: Albertson Parkway, Bay Trail, Five Wounds Trail, Highway 237 Bikeway, Lake Almaden Trail, Lake Cunningham Trail, Penitencia Creek Trail, Saratoga Creek Trail, Silver Creek Trail, and Thompson Creek Trail.

Q7. How do you use the trails?

Q8. What was your primary reason for using the trail today?

San Joseans value health as a primary reason for accessing trails:

The Annual Trail Count Survey showed 50% of respondents selecting health as the primary reason for using the trail. In support of this finding, the Interim survey related to Covid-19 and the Shelter-In-Place Order also found that almost 60% of survey respondents selected health as the main purpose for using San Jose Trails. It should be noted, however, that responses selecting Active Transportation (Commuting) were lower than normal for both surveys, and this may be related to the decrease in the number of people commuting to work during the County’s Shelter-In-Place Order.

Q9. If commuting (active transportation), which best defines your destination?

Q10. How often do you visit San Jose trails?

Q11. On a Scale of 1:10, rate the following:

(Guiding Principles from ActivateSJ, the Department’s Strategic Plan)

(Compared to 7.0 in 2019)

(Compared to 6.5 in 2019)

(Compared to 6.2 in 2019)

(Compared to 6.5 in 2019)

(Compared to 8.0 in 2019)

Q12: What most negatively impacts your ability to bike along trails?

This question offered six pre-selected responses and an opportunity to state other impacts.

From the pre-selected categories, “Pavement Condition” received the most results for being an impediment to trail use (19%). Of the 30 responses submitted under the “Other” Impacts category, 63% were related to homelessness and associated debris.

The survey findings can be focused into the following categories:

Maintenance • 19% of respondents stated an impact from Pavement Conditions. • 14% selected Landscape Maintenance and Seasonal Weeds. • 13% selected Litter. • 11% stated a need for General Maintenance. • 43% provided an answer under the “Other” Impacts category.

The “Other” Impacts responses were as follows:

Social Issues • Unhoused persons and encampments occupying the trail. • Trash and large piles of debris located on the trail. • The behavior of unhoused persons (throwing items and the presence of unleashed dogs). • Solo users no longer feel safe accessing the trails.

Design Improvements • Trail connections and completion of the network. • Connection to downtown San Jose.

Operational Improvements • Flooded under-crossings, more winter maintenance. • Underpass lighting in need of repair. • Inclusion of lights for winter evenings.

User Conflicts • Crowds and congestions (weekends were specifically mentioned). • Insufficient use of social distancing and the wearing of masks.

Q13: How important is access to nature in your decision to use San Jose trail?

Q14: Do you feel safer on the trail network or on the on-street bike lanes?

For those who stated feeling safer using the trail network, 86% of responses related the reason to not being around vehicular traffic. From those who shared they feel safer on on-street bike lanes, 47% related the reason to homeless encampments on or near trails. Other reasons for feeling safer on an on-street bike lane included the following: protected bike lanes feel safer from traffic and pedestrians; trails can feel isolated; trees surrounding the trail are not maintained; and the trail network is not connected.

Q15: What feature would encourage you to use the trail system more often?

Answer Choices Percentage of Number of Response Responses Presence of Rangers* 3% 2 Better Maintenance 6% 4 Fewer Homeless Encampments 47% 33 More Trail Connections & Looped Circuits 40% 28 Other 4% 3 *Instead of selecting the “Presence of Rangers” pre-set option, two survey respondents specified the inclusion of utilizing Rangers under the “Other” category, therefore the “Presence of Rangers” option received two responses. These two responses have been removed from the “Other” category, to provide an updated “Other” number of responses.

The top two responses were “Fewer Homeless Encampments” (47%) and “More Trail Connections and Looped Circuits” (40%). Responses specified under the “Other” category included: utilizing police officers or sheriff deputies to patrol trails, helping the unhoused individuals along trails, and having trails within closer proximity to housing.

Thank You to all our volunteers, partners and team members! 40 volunteers (89 hours) 11 count stations 78 online surveys taken

Friends of Five Wounds Trail Guadalupe River Park Conservancy Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful Save Our Trails GHD Company

Appendix A: Interim Trail Count Findings – A Study During Covid-19 (June 2020)

During the Santa Clara County Public Health Department Order to Shelter-In-

Place, staff conducted a survey to better understand trail use and if any changes were occurring during the response to Covid-19. The survey received 305 responses between the dates of May 22 through June 28, 2020.

Key Findings:

Q1: 4% Ages 0 – 24 / 13% Ages 25 – 34 / 42% Ages 35 – 54 / 41% Ages 55 +

Q2: 50% Male / 47% Female / 3% Non-Binary or Decline to State

Q3: Trail Use During Shelter-In-Place:

With Shelter-in-Place restrictions in place since March, how has your use of San Jose Trails changed? 50.00% 45.00% 40.00% 35.00% 30.00% 25.00% 20.00% Responses 15.00% 10.00% 5.00% 0.00% I use the trail I use the trail I use the trail network about the network more network less same as before frequently frequently

Q4: When asked, 88 of the 91 survey respondents who stated using the trail network less frequently, shared the following reasons for a decrease in trail use:

Of the specified reasons mentioned in the “Other” category, the following were the top three responses: 1. No longer commuting to work during the Shelter-In- Place (48%), 2. Not feeling safe around the homeless encampments on and near the trails (26%), and 3. Some of the Parks Department Trails were closed (13%).

Q5: Have you used a new trail as a result of Shelter-In-Place restrictions?

Almost half of survey respondents replied yes to using a new trail (49%), with the most popular examples being Guadalupe River Trail and Coyote Creek Trail.

Q6: Which new trail did you use?

From the 121 responses provided, there were several County and City trails mentioned. The most common City of San Jose Trails accessed for the first time during the Shelter-In-Place were the following:

• Guadalupe River Trail (16 new users) • Coyote Creek Trail (15 new users) • Los Gatos Creek Trail (11 new users) • Lake Almaden Trail (6 new users) • Los Alamitos Creek Trail (3 new users) • Penitencia Creek Trail (3 new users) • Three Creeks Trail (3 new users)

Q7: What caused you to use the new trail?

Some reasons shared under the “Other” category for trying a new San Jose Trail during Shelter-In-Place included: the trail was in close proximity to home, the trail linked to other trails, the trail was near public transit, the trail was mentioned on an app for hiking, the trail provided an outlet for exercise, and walking the trail supported mental health.

Q8: Since Shelter-In-Place, for what purpose do you most often use San Jose Trails?

At nearly 60%, health was the primary motivator for accessing trails. From the “Other” category, the majority of respondents shared that they do not use San Jose Trails (57% of “Other” category). Additional examples submitted in the “Other” category included: accessing trails to share nature experiences with children, walk dogs, and support mental and emotional heath.

Q9 Since Shelter-in-Place, have you used San Jose Trails alone or with a friend? Q10 Is this a change from your previous behavior? Q11 What caused this change in your behavior?

Due to a technical issue, questions 9, 10, and 11 of the Interim Survey did not receive enough responses to assess the data and/or corresponding results. Questions 9 and 10 received one response, and question 11 did not receive any responses. The survey results will proceed with Question 12 on the next page.

Q12 / Q13 / Q14: On a scale of 1 to 100, with one being the lowest and 100 being the highest, survey respondents rated the following statements:

Q15: What do you appreciate most about San Jose Trails during Shelter-In-Place?

“They are essential for my physical and mental well-being.”

“Being close to nature is peaceful and healing.”

“They offer a place for individuals and families to enjoy the outdoors.” “The trail is my gym. I have been using it for the past three years.”

“Trails & open space have provided a vital outlet for people “They are a great staying home.” alternative to driving.” “They offer the opportunity to get out of the office and exercise.”

“Being able to explore my city with my kids.” 8