Do rail-trails attract crime and vandalism to neighborhoods?
There is no evidence that rail trails cause an increase in crime. In fact, trail development may actually decrease the risk of crime in comparison to an abandoned and undeveloped rail corridor. And, several studies have shown that people prefer living along a rail trail rather than an abandoned corridor. Typically, lawful trail users serve as eyes and ears for the community. However, a trail is unlikely to have a crime rate lower than that in surrounding neighborhoods. For more information, see documents at the web sites of the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and the Friends of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail.
No. There is no evidence that rail-trails cause an increase in crime. In fact, trail development may actually decrease the risk of crime in comparison to an abandoned and undeveloped rail corridor. And, several studies show that people prefer living along a rail-trail rather than an abandoned corridor. Typically, lawful trail users serve as eyes and ears for the community. Source: Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, Washington, DC.www.railtrails.
