Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) theories contend that law enforcement officers, architects, city planners, landscape and interior designers, and resident volunteers can create a climate of safety in a community right from the start. CPTED’s goal is to prevent crime by designing a physical environment that positively influences human behavior. The theory is based on four principles: natural access control, natural surveillance, territoriality, and maintenance.
The experience on 372 trails. Written by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy in cooperation with the National Parks Service.
Do bike paths cause crime? While enthusiasts may laugh at the suggestion, others fear dire consequences if undeveloped areas became public trails. Urban greenway supporters may cross swords with adamant opponents in vitriolic public meetings or expensive court cases. One community fought this battle on both fronts far years.
Frequently asked questions about trails, including safety, liability, and more.
Safety and security are major concerns for visitors to all types of parks, including linear parks and trails within more traditional parks. Concerns about safety and security, especially those voiced by adjacent residents, often form the core of arguments against the acquisition or development of trails. They also may be challenges for continuing trail operation and management.
In 2000, the Pinellas County MPO commissioned Renaissance Planning Group of Orlando to conduct a study of the community impacts associated with the Pinellas Trail, a 34-mile converted railroad in the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area of Florida. The MPO was planning extensions of the trail and connections to it from other communities, and had encountered opposition from homeowner groups and others about potentially negative impacts on property values, noise and crime. The study was intended to evaluate economic impacts in terms of residential property values, business investment, and crime statistics, and included a household survey of residents living within 1/4 mile of the trail.
