Fayetteville city trail officials have decided citizens could use a lot more night lights, but not inside their homes.
City officials say in just two months' time, about 30,000 people used Fayetteville trails, and many hit the pavement during overnight hours. Timothy Forsyth is a student who lives just off the Scull Creek Trail. He says, "late out at night I'll be walking. It'll be 11:00 to midnight, and there's still people walking out here. I'm surprised about that."
Trail officials were also surprised. They say in one study, two infrared cameras logged about 1,500 people using the trails between 11:00 p.m. and 5:30 in the morning, hours when the trail lights had been turned off. Ashley McCoy also lives trailside. She says, "I'd probably feel safer if it was lit."
Scull Creek Trail runner Jereme Batson says his safety concerns have to do with unseen obstacles in the dark. "It's darker early, now, so lights would help see and make sure you're not going to hit a tree or pothole or something."
With so many rolling down the trails in the dark, officials say they have decided to leave the lights on all the time, and let Fayetteville's night owls walk, run, and bike to their hearts' content. Mark Drake is trying out the Scull Creek Trail for the first time, on his bike. "There's a light standard every 25 yards, so I think it would be safe to use at night." Forsyth tells us, he'll give it a go, as well. "I think I'm going to go biking...at midnight."
Some like trail biker Jennifer Batson say it will also benefit folks living near the trail's edge."Knowing that when you came out here you can see what's out here, instead of going to your car and it being dark out here, and you not knowing cause you don't know who's on the trail." Her husband, Jereme, agrees. "There's a lot of places to hide. If you're a predator you could hide in a bush, you know: with lights it makes it harder."
Some living in trailside apartments say permanent lights mean they're more comfortable walking to shop, late at night. McCoy describes her frequent routine with her boyfriend. "There's a gas station up there, and then we walk to Walmart." Forsyth looks forward to the lights, as well. "I'm at school all day, so if I wanted to still walk or exercise I could come out here at night if it was lit up." And Batson says, day or night, Scull Creek is her favorite trail. "We use the trail over here all the time. This is the trail of choice."
Officials say right now only about three miles of city trails have lights like these. They hope to eventually install lights along every mile of Fayetteville's trails, but in the meantime, say they expect the lit portions on Scull Creek will get a lot more night-time use. LED lights are also on the table for talks between city officials. Compared to the lights dotting the trail now, LED's only use about a fourth of the power. Trail coordinators hope LED lights could cut some of the extra cost of leaving the lights on all night long.
City officials say in just two months' time, about 30,000 people used Fayetteville trails, and many hit the pavement during overnight hours. Timothy Forsyth is a student who lives just off the Scull Creek Trail. He says, "late out at night I'll be walking. It'll be 11:00 to midnight, and there's still people walking out here. I'm surprised about that."
Trail officials were also surprised. They say in one study, two infrared cameras logged about 1,500 people using the trails between 11:00 p.m. and 5:30 in the morning, hours when the trail lights had been turned off. Ashley McCoy also lives trailside. She says, "I'd probably feel safer if it was lit."
Scull Creek Trail runner Jereme Batson says his safety concerns have to do with unseen obstacles in the dark. "It's darker early, now, so lights would help see and make sure you're not going to hit a tree or pothole or something."
With so many rolling down the trails in the dark, officials say they have decided to leave the lights on all the time, and let Fayetteville's night owls walk, run, and bike to their hearts' content. Mark Drake is trying out the Scull Creek Trail for the first time, on his bike. "There's a light standard every 25 yards, so I think it would be safe to use at night." Forsyth tells us, he'll give it a go, as well. "I think I'm going to go biking...at midnight."
Some like trail biker Jennifer Batson say it will also benefit folks living near the trail's edge."Knowing that when you came out here you can see what's out here, instead of going to your car and it being dark out here, and you not knowing cause you don't know who's on the trail." Her husband, Jereme, agrees. "There's a lot of places to hide. If you're a predator you could hide in a bush, you know: with lights it makes it harder."
Some living in trailside apartments say permanent lights mean they're more comfortable walking to shop, late at night. McCoy describes her frequent routine with her boyfriend. "There's a gas station up there, and then we walk to Walmart." Forsyth looks forward to the lights, as well. "I'm at school all day, so if I wanted to still walk or exercise I could come out here at night if it was lit up." And Batson says, day or night, Scull Creek is her favorite trail. "We use the trail over here all the time. This is the trail of choice."
Officials say right now only about three miles of city trails have lights like these. They hope to eventually install lights along every mile of Fayetteville's trails, but in the meantime, say they expect the lit portions on Scull Creek will get a lot more night-time use. LED lights are also on the table for talks between city officials. Compared to the lights dotting the trail now, LED's only use about a fourth of the power. Trail coordinators hope LED lights could cut some of the extra cost of leaving the lights on all night long.
