Benefits of Concrete Trails vs. Soft-Surface
6 Benefits of Concrete Trails
Many communities around the world are working hard to increase opportunities for a diversity of trail users to access multi-use trails for both recreational and functional purposes. As a result, these communities are utilizing concrete trails as a way to accommodate commuters and persons with disabilities. So let’s take a look at just some of the benefits of concrete trails:
Durability: Concrete trails are durable and can withstand heavy foot and bike traffic for many years. They are resistant to wear and tear, weathering, and erosion.
Safety: Concrete trails provide a safe and stable surface for users, reducing the risk of falls and injuries. They also offer good traction, which is especially important in wet or icy conditions.
Accessibility: Concrete trails can be designed to meet accessibility standards, making them usable for people with disabilities. They can be built with gentle slopes, widened areas for wheelchair users, and other accessibility features.
4. Year-round Availability: Unlike dirt paths and gravel trail, concrete trails can be plowed in the winter months. Also, concrete trails will not be damaged and rutted due to rain and snow-melt, thus making them more accessible for a wider range of users.
5. Better for Both Commuting: For those who use trails as a means of transportation, concrete trails are much more desirable. They allow commuters to reach their destinations much more predictably and much less affected by inclement weather.
6. Cost Savings: Although concrete trails are initially more expensive to install, they cost far less in long-term upkeep than soft-surface trails.
Inconveniences of Concrete Trails?
Some trail users, such as trail runners, may feel inconvenienced by concrete trails due to the harder surface. But those users should weigh the minor inconvenience of a harder surface to the much more consequential inconveniences to disabled/handicapped users when it comes to soft-surface trails. Concrete trails allow year-round trail use for people in wheel chairs, bicycle commuters, hikers who use walkers/canes and other accommodations. In addition, for every mile of concrete trail, there are hundreds of miles of dirt and gravel trails available to runners and others who desire soft-surface trails. It is important to think of the needs of all trail users rather than just a few people who are inconvenienced by the harder/smoother surface of concrete trails.
1 pings
[…] Benefits of Concrete Trails […]