UAF Skarland Trail System Management Plan
UAF Trails 1999 User Survey Results
March 2, 2000
Comments on the Survey Itself
An astounding 132 people took the time to comment on what they thought of the survey itself.
First question should allow more options- I am a student but also a long time AK
Nice design - pretty non-threatening.
This is good for public input. I did not know about it until this week. And a blanket e-mail to all UAF would have been good.
Pretty darn good!
A bit too long
It's O.K. Seems to assume that most important use of areas described is for recreation, when in fact university campus land's main function is for research and teaching.
Very thorough, but as with most surveys, multiple choice is always somewhat limiting. Excellent setup, however.
Wonderful! It is great. Best of luck in sorting through the varied opinions
Nice to see we are moving ahead with this plan. Good thing Stan Justice "retired".
A great start! Thanks!
It was fine. It is nice to see interest and action!
Long
Easy & Pertinent
Susan is doing a wonderful job. I really appreciate the effort. Good luck with the mixed use issues. I clearly favor ski-only trails!
Good idea, and useful if enough people fill it out
Well done!
Long (good -- lots of details) but that translates poorly on a single page web form. Fixed box size also not good.
Excellent
Good job - Love the maps - I had no idea some of this stuff was being proposed
Would like to see some portion of trail used exclusively for classes and teaching purposes-nice level, well groomed scenic loop would be nice. Signs with distances would really be nice. Groom all the way over to Hess Village area so a nice big loop that connects with West Ridge can be done.
The survey is fine as far as it goes, although I would have liked to have a little more background on the plan that goes behind it. An essential question that is missing from the first section is WHERE users gain access to the trail system. The apparent strong emphasis of the plan on the west end of campus seems to reflect not enough consideration of this question (I'll have more to say on this in my e-mailed comments). The planned use of some of the proposed trails is very unclear, i.e. whether they are to be groomed ski trails or primarily for runners. This applies to the West Ridge and Commuter Trails, although the purpose of the Commuter trail became clearer in a later question. The question on signs was unclear: The implications are quite different if these are to be put at major ROAD intersections (which I oppose) vs. major TRAIL intersections (which I think is a good idea).
It is OK -- take out the "Go to Top" buttons. They are not needed.
Very well done
Very good survey.
Pretty good, Thanks
The survey's fine; just wonder about the distribution of the survey so that you get a good representation of the users. I only heard of through a friend who happened to be on the e-mail list. How about a notice in the Nordic Ski Club newsletter or a link
Reasonable, but some questions had too many subclauses, which could generate the opposite response from that to the main question
Quick and easy, but you got carried away with the graphic elements.
I think it was a great survey. Nice and short and attractively designed. Good work team...
Not bad.. Covers the areas of the interested parties.
Are not the aforementioned uses of walking and dogs on the trails already prohibited? I thought they are prohibited. Your survey leads me to believe that this fundamental prohibition is up for review. The ski trails are the poorest maintained n the borough due to people's lack of courtesy to skiers. I hope this survey does not provide a vehicle where a vocal minority might hijack this survey to serve their interest.
Good, but I could not save my work, if I didn't have time to finish..or wanted to think more on it...so had to do over..may discourage some. The order of responses should remain the same throughout... To be fairer. In general the survey is clear and easy
Neutral or No Opinion seems to be in the place that really means "moderate priority." If it think something is between a high and low priority, it doesn't mean I have no opinion or am neutral on the subject.
The survey is very well put together.
Thanks for the effort!
I'm glad to see you are working on the project. There are a lot of good questions. It would be nice to look at the trail system and include other trail systems that could be included at westridge also. Rosie Creek has a lot to offer and I would like to see them connected to the UAF system.
I thought it would have been interesting for you to ask if the person being surveyed had been a student Faculty or employee rather than just a Fairbanks or Alaska resident.
Good
Bulky format.
It was fine, some of the questions seemed mutually exclusive like the signs at trail heads or trash barrel question, I'd prefer to have neither.
I like the survey but action is even better. I like the Stan and Andy approach: if you need a fence build one!
Good !
No information provided as to cost of each of the improvements ..... Assuming that everything will be funded by grants ? No mention of the current grant. What is being built under the existing grant ?
Easy to use, quick to complete I don't have an email address for personal use. Will have to contact me via regular mail.
It was somewhat lengthy, but all in all it was a well thought out survey. Thank you for letting the community in general have some input.
Seems like you have covered the system pretty well! When can we expect to see some results? I can help on some of the projects.
Don't apologize--it is way better than the biased crap I receive in the mail on a daily basis that are purported to be "surveys"--the savings in coding, etc. Is SMART
Hey, it's the best one around! A very good project, a good start, a very worthy cause. Bless you for trying to intelligently plan and use the wonderful greenspace which is more important to a community than 10 McDonald's or Freds. Best of luck to you in the age of MOTOR SPORTS. Thanks
I couldn't think of any other projects that I would like to see added to the UAF trails, so I think you covered it pretty well. I really liked the on-line survey format and maps.
I think it is great that some plan may be developed. I used to use the trails a lot more than I do now, and think they are a wonderful resource for non-motorized recreation within the Fairbanks area.
Do not think that a neutral response is between don't do it and low to high priority. A neutral response is just that -- neutral, no opinion.
Good Idea.
Good idea, audience limited
It's clumsy to take, but seems fairly efficient.
Not a bad survey. The organization was a tad confusing; I didn't know whether to keep scrolling down or hit one of the five buttons near the top. Also the name and e-mail section has confusing labeling. Which goes in which box?
Good the 2nd time around; let's hope it submits properly!
OK
I've been skiing and running on these trails off and on since 1968. They are currently the best they've ever been. I hope you can continue to improve them.
Too long- too many choices of things to do
In part 3, I think that between "low priority" and "high priority" should be "medium priority", rather than "no opinion". In the prohibited uses, the "horses" and "bicycles" options undo each other (only one "check" allowed for both lines
No place for comments on the items.
Good. I love the trails and feel you folks have done a great job so far. I don't think many people really appreciate what a great resource our arboretum is. Thanks again and keep up the good work.
I would have liked more explanation on some questions, like background, future plans, etc. In order to make a more informed choice since I am not a regular user especially in the winter. Fairbanks has so few parks or recreation areas that children can use
The little thumbnail maps were inspired. I found it very easy to get around in.
Good first try. I would have listed all the proposed projects and trail needs together then have asked for a priority. What are you going to do when everything is "high" priority or "strongly preferred"?
I felt this was a good survey, it covered everything is was interested in and more!
It's too wordy and cumbersome to answer. Because of the way questions are asked, you have to read and reread each to make sure you are answering the way you want to.
I am glad this evaluation of the trail system is taking place. Some of the ideas presented are very good.
Where is the picnic area you refer to?? Survey OK
TOO LONG
I believe it is biased against motorized or even wheeled access. A large part of the community participates in Wheeled/motorized transport and recreation, and to shut them out of the University trails would alienate them, with a very real potential loss of community support for the University.
It looks like a good attempt to solicit input. Nice web page.
I think it is well written and has the potential to be quite productive.
Would be good to include more information about the financing of all this. Hard to set new trail priorities if you don't know how much each will cost, where the money is coming from, and what other university functions might be sacrificed for a new trail.
Great job
Pretty good.
The survey is very well explained and well-thought out. I think that it is an excellent survey.
It's a good idea. The snowmachines and four wheelers are really bad and I would like them banned.
Thanks for asking!
I hope that this will help, the trails have degraded the last few years Lets try and turn this around
This survey is too long.
Good
Great idea and very pc :)
Slightly flawed, but a noble effort. Thanks for asking. There is not enough background information for nonskiers to fill this survey out in intelligent fashion--especially for mushers and skijorers who currently are expected to pretty much completely avoid
Seems good to me.
Very careful and useful.
Well designed! Now you just have to take to heart what the respondents have to say!
It's fine. I'm in a hurry, so I can't think about it too much right now. About some of the paths you mentioned earlier: the walk/run/bike path just north of Tanana Loop: we can ride on the road, just have them plow it farther out, and maybe put a bike sign up, so motorists will beware (although everyone is good about bicyclists here). The walk/run/bike path around the farm: there already is a path here...it just isn't a perfect, maintained path. It is OK to not have everything be perfect and maintained. The west ridge trail connecting Chapman to west ridge...there already is a lovely path. I don't think there is a need to do more.
Mostly, be careful to not make too many paths...be careful to leave lots of woods! But, I love the paths/trails that we already have! I really, really appreciate them! I think that ALL roads in town should have a bike path (being idealistic!). I also like having paths that I can walk my dogs on. I'd love to be able to skijor on UAF paths, but I realize this isn't possible bc people want to keep the ski trails poop free and groomed. I also enjoy taking walks on the paths in the winter...I like going through the woods, even though I shouldn't walk on ski-trails! I don't do this often...mostly I ski on them! Thanks! Thanks for the good work!!! It is hard to please everyone. I'm sure that whatever you do will be nice.
Thanks for making an effort to make the trails nice for the students. I know there are many people who feel strongly about the ski trails, so I appreciate the opportunity to say something.
Well.... I suspect that Susan Todd had a hand in writing the survey. The wording of the questions were well done (I know she's a master at mediation and can put ever so slight a slant on the wording to bias the reader just a little). ;)
Good survey. Will the campground be addressed at the same time as the trail systems? I would put top priority on a campground.
Fine.
It was quite comprehensive and thorough.
I think it is a good survey and has more information that is unbiased than I have seen in a lot of surveys. The web format is also handy for saving money.
Survey is good! Appears to cover all areas necessary
I think that you should change the dots I got lost and couldn't tell if I answered the question in the fill in the dot part.
Too many subjects, the survey should be narrowed down to what really are the priorities. But overall I think it will be effective.
Proposed trails are all pretty much in the same area! I was hoping for some good ideas about the Ballaine side of the system. Namely, I live on Farmer's Loop and would love to skijor to school, but am currently prevented from accessing campus because all the nearest trails are groomed on that side. Same goes for winter biking, I have to use the road at all times once I approach campus. Other than that it seems like a good survey!
Difficult to get the hang of how to answer properly
This is a good survey. I hope you can use people's comments in your future plans.
It's a great idea (as long as you take all my advice!)
Good?
I thought it was strange that the 1-6 scale sometimes did and sometimes did not include #1 and #5. Otherwise, it was well organized and easy to follow.
This survey is OK It seems like the questions are already a little loaded. The statements to agree/ disagree with are very strongly directed and you may strongly disagree with the statement which still doesn't explain your stance. It is not as easy to ex
Pretty good. I'm not a big fan of the web surveys since the results can be easily manipulated by repeating the survey under a different name.
Great idea!
Good
Not all categories are offered the full range of options (specifically (#5 - VERY high priority is not always a choice)
Harmless.
I think the wording of questions reflects some of the creator's biases. For example, "Do NOT put a litter collection system in place. Instead, post signs at trailheads: "Take only memories, Leave only footprints" is pretty leading, with it's use of the negative. However, I share the bias.. I really liked the quick map reference. Nicely done.
It was a good survey, I hope a lot of people responded.
I think this is very important. It gives those who use the trails regularly a chance to give their input. Thank you. I am a commuter who uses the trails all summer and winter.
It's good that you're even asking people about this issue. It just shows that you guys care about what people think.
It is a good survey.
Boring. Very boring.
Good survey.
Pretty good survey, the text boxes are hard to use as they scroll across the screen when lines get too long.
I think it is a great idea, and what a novel concept to be proactive! Congratulations!
Excellent way to get feedback. Thank you.
THANK YOU for the opportunity to voice our opinions.
Very good survey. It includes Ideas that I had not thought of
I think the survey is well done and a great way to get public input. The uncut laminated flyers about this survey are hard to detach at the outdoor trails postings.
The survey is good
Nice job with the maps; I hope you get some good feedback.
It's great, I've wanted to tell someone how I felt about the dog policy for some time.
Good.
PS You did a good job on advertising this time around.
This is a strange survey - somehow I don't feel that my personal opinion didn't have a place to be expressed. Also, it seems biased against expanded trail use.
Instead of putting all sections on a single web page, break it up into multiple pages -- makes it easier to read. Standardize the possible responses listed under proposed new trails and proposed facilities. Some say "neutral or no opinion" while others say "very low priority". Some have 6 answer options, some have 8.
Good.
Good survey, It's really good to know that you care about what we think.
Last modified on 2/9/04 by OIT Web Developer