The Ontario Trail User Code of Ethics
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The Ontario Trail User Code of Ethics A research report prepared for the Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion by J.S.Marsh, A.MacPherson and C.D.Murray Trail Studies Unit Trent University Peterborough, Ontario, K9J-7B8 [email protected] November 2006 The Ontario Trail User Code of Ethics A research report prepared for the Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion J.S.Marsh, A.MacPherson and C.D.Murray Trail Studies Unit, Trent University November 2006 SUMMARY Need for code of ethics The Ontario Trails Strategy, approved in 2005, stated that “trail stakeholders recognize the need to work together to effectively establish a province wide code of trail conduct.” A province wide code of ethics would improve the safety of trails in Ontario, reduce conflicts between trail users, and decrease the environmental impact of trails. In April 2006, the Ministry of Health Promotion contracted the Trail Studies Unit at Trent University, to develop a draft code of ethics for trail users. Scope of the project The project called for us to: 1. Do a literature search and recording trail ethics relating to motorized and non- motorized trail users throughout Canada and abroad. 2. Assess each code of ethics to determine generic trail codes of ethics for all users of trails. 3. Propose a code of ethics 4. Test or evaluate acceptance of code of ethics via mail, internet, personal interviews and telephone survey. 5. Prepare a final report. Methods Existing codes of ethics advocated by 166 trail organizations, including 49 from Ontario, were collected by internet research, and a survey. They were analyzed to identify commonalities. These formed the basis of a draft code of ethics, that was then circulated to 70 Ontario trail stakeholder for review. This enabled a revised draft code of ethics to be developed. This second draft was then presented at the Ontario Trails Council Conference in June 9-10, 2006. Comments were solicited verbally and by means of a questionnaire. A presentation was made to the Ontario Provincial Trails Advisory Committee, June 26, 2006. As a result, further input was received by email and telephone. Having considered the results of our analysis and the feedback received on draft versions, the following Code of Ethics is proposed: 1 The Ontario Trail User Code of Ethics Expect and respect other users Know and obey rules and laws Stay on the trail Do not disturb plants or animals Do not litter Respect private property and local residents Be prepared, to ensure your safety and the safety of others Stay on the right, pass on the left Slow when approaching other travelers, and yield to the faster traveler Be courteous and communicate with other trail users A province-wide Code of Ethics should apply to all trails and trail users, regardless of mode of transport. As a result, individual trails and user groups may need to add additional ethics to the Code in order for it to meet their specific requirements. Further Review The only statement in the above Code of some concern that might merit further consideration, is “Slow when approaching other travelers, and yield to the faster traveler.” This statement could be eliminated and a supplementary statement added on multi-use trails to indicate which users should yield. One respondent suggested the statement could be modified to say “Yield to users with less maneuverability”. We suggest there be a final review of the proposed Code by the Ontario Trails Council, and a field testing of the Code for comprehension and acceptability. Trails, their users, and impacts are constantly changing, so the Code should again be reviewed and possibly revised within five years. Approval It is recommended that the final Code of Ethics be adopted by the Ministry of Health Promotion and the Ontario Trails Council. Need to communicate This report has been written in sections so it can be communicated with various levels of detail: the summary, the summary and text, the summary text and figures, and the summary, text, figures and appendices. If the final Code of Ethics is to achieve the objectives for which it was developed, it will be essential to communicate it widely and persistently by means of websites, newsletters, brochures, and school and public education programs. It should also be communicated by signs on trails, though the wording could be more concise. Acknowledgements The Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion for financial aid, and all who contributed to the development of the code. 2 CONTENTS List of Figures…………………………………………………………………...... 4 List of Tables……………………………………………………………………... 4 List of Appendices………………………………………………………………... 5 Acknowledgements……………………………………………………………...... 6 1.0 Introduction………………………………………………………………….. 7 1.1 Why is a Province-Wide Trail User Code of Ethics Needed?................. 7 1.2 Aim and Scope of the Project………………………………………….. 7 2.0 Methods……………………………………………………………………... 8 2.1 Data Collection……………………………………………………….... 8 2.2 Data Analysis…………………………………………………………... 9 2.3 Trail Stakeholder Reviews of Draft Code of Ethics…………………… 10 3.0 Results……………………………………………………………………….. 10 4.0 Conclusion…………………………………………………………………... 13 5.0 Supplementary Codes……………………………………………………….. 17 6.0 Adoption of Code of Ethics………………………………………………..... 18 7.0 Communicating a Code of Ethics…………………………………………… 18 8.0 Continuous Monitoring and Evaluation of a Code of Ethics………………... 19 9.0 References…………………………………………………………………... 19 10.0 Figures………………………………………………………………………. 20 11.0 Tables……………………………………………………………………….. 28 12.0 Appendices………………………………………………………………….. 30 3 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1 Codes of Ethics in Dataset by Location (n=166)…………………… 20 Figure 2 Codes of Ethics in Dataset by Motorized and Non-Motorized Target Groups (n=166)…………………………………………................... 20 Figure 3 Codes of Ethics in Dataset by Target Groups (n=166)…………………………………………………………........ 21 Figure 4 Percentage Of Codes Of Ethics In Dataset Containing The General Themes (Parent Nodes): (A) Entire Dataset (n=166) and (B) Ontario Based Organizations (n=49)…............................................... 21 Figure 5 The Percentage of Codes of Ethics that Contain Respect The Environment Sub-Themes: (A) Entire Dataset (n=166) and (B) Ontario Based Organizations (n=49)…………………………........... 22 Figure 6 The Percentage of Codes of Ethics that Contain Respect The Trail Sub-Themes: (A) Entire Dataset (n=166) and (B) Ontario Based Organizations (n=49)………………………………………………... 23 Figure 7 The Percentage of Codes of Ethics that Contain User Safety Sub- Themes: (A) Entire Dataset (n=166) and (B) Ontario Based Organizations (n=49)……………………........................................... 24 Figure 8 The Percentage of Codes of Ethics that Contain Traffic Flow and Passing Sub-Themes: (A) Entire Dataset (n=166) and (B) Ontario Based Organizations (n=49)…………………………........................ 25 Figure 9 The Percentage of Codes of Ethics that Contain User Limitations and Regulations Sub-Themes: (A) Entire Dataset (n=166) and (B) Ontario Based Organizations (n=49)................................................... 26 Figure 10 The Percentage of Codes of Ethics that Contain Respect Other Users Sub-Themes: (A) Entire Dataset (n=166) and (B) Ontario Based Organizations (n=49)…………………………………............ 27 LIST OF TABLES Table 1 Codes of Ethics in Dataset by the Type of Organization……………. 28 Table 2 The 25 Most Commonly Advocated Sub-Themes: (A) All Data (N=166), and (B) Ontario Data (N=49)……………………………... 29 4 LIST OF APPENDICES Appendix 1 Ontario Trail Stakeholders Contacted for Codes of Ethics or to Verify Codes of Ethics…………………………………………….. 30 Appendix 2 Form Letter Used in Initial Mailing to Organizations without a Code of Ethics in the Dataset……………………………………… 32 Appendix 3 Form Letter Used in Initial Mailing to Organizations with a Code Of Ethics In The Dataset…………………………………………... 33 Appendix 4 Form Letter Used in Second Mailing to Organizations without a Code of Ethics in The Dataset That Did Not Reply to the Initial Mailing Before May 19, 2006……………………………………... 34 Appendix 5 Form Letter Used in Second Mailing to Organizations with a Code Of Ethics in the Dataset That Did Not Reply to the Initial Mailing Before May 19, 2006………………………………………………. 35 Appendix 6 General Themes (Parent Nodes), and Sub-Themes (Child Nodes) used in NVivo Coding……………………………………………... 36 Appendix 7 Form Letter Used in Final Mailing to all Organizations on the List of Ontario Trail Stakeholders, Asking for Comment on Proposed Code of Ethics……………………………………………………... 37 Appendix 8 Poster Presentation from Ontario Trails Council Conference, June 9-10, 2006………………………………………………………….. 38 Appendix 9 Questionnaire To Solicit Comments on Revised Draft Code of Ethics at The Ontario Trails Council Conference, June 9-10, 2006…………………………………………………………........... 39 Appendix 10 Ontario Codes of Ethics...………………………………………..... 40 Appendix 11 Codes of Ethics Advocated by Groups Outside of Ontario……….. 67 5 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We would like to thank the Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion for funding this project. We would also like to thank the following people and organizations for their input and comments: Carol Oitment, Mandy Walker (Ministry of Health Promotion), Bjorn Nielsen, Michael Haynes and Jody Conrad (Go For Green), Marc Guindon and Ken Hoeverman (Ontario Federation of Trail Riders), Frieda Baldwin (Huronia Trails and Greenways), Dan Andrews (Trans Canada Trail Ontario), Marcia Barrett (Ontario Equestrian Federation), Peter Verbeek (Ganaraska Hiking Trail Association), John Clark (Thames Valley Trail Association), Ruth Oswald (Grand