Yes!! Outdoor trail enthusiasts are growing in exponential numbers.
Not only did the pandemic boost outdoor activities, it appears that the trend is here to stay. Value added by the outdoor industry to GNP rose by 27.8% in California versus 24.7% for the United States from 2020 to 2021. The Pacific Crest Trail Association reported that hiker and equestrian permits issued grew from 1,879 in 2013 to 7,200 in 2021. E-Bike sales have skyrocketed in popularity and forecasted to grow by 6.9% annually from 2022 to 2030. The electronic assist allows people who no longer have the athletic ability to manually pedal access to the great outdoors. This is especially true for older cyclists. Horses also allow seniors to travel long distances without their own impetus.
Speaking of seniors – California’s population grew a little over 4% over the last 12 years, with seniors representing the bulk of that change. –And they are outside recreating! Per the Outdoor Industry analysts: participation in outdoor recreation by the senior crowd – age 65 and up – which grew by 2.5 million or 16.8 percent since 2019, was the largest increase by percentage and by count in the participant base. The next oldest age group, 55-to-64, increased the second most with two million new participants for an increase of 11.7 percent.
As volumes of trail users increase, so do safety concerns. E-Bikes allow for faster travel when not relying on manual pedaling, which when combined with the increased number of slow-moving seniors hiking and riding, spells disaster.
