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Visitor Assessment of the Mandatory Alternative Transportation System at Zion National Park

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Abstract

Transportation infrastructure in national parks has historically been designed for the automobile. With more vehicles in the parks, visitors found themselves in circumstances more reminiscent of a city than a park. Traffic jams, overcrowding, illegal parking, horn honking, and idling vehicles became common, creating stress and contributing to air and noise pollution, the very things visitors were hoping to get away from. Park managers began searching for alternatives, including shuttle systems. Many national parks have implemented optional shuttle systems, but relatively few have completely closed roads to vehicles, transporting visitors on mandatory shuttles. Zion National Park instituted a mandatory shuttle system in May 2000 to relieve crowding and congestion in the main canyon and to protect natural resources. Taking a longitudinal approach, attributes of the shuttle (e.g., crowding, accessibility, freedom, efficiency, preference, and success) were assessed with experiential park factors (e.g., scenic beauty, naturalness, solitude, tranquility, air quality, and soundscape) in 2000, 2003, and 2010 by surveying shuttle-riding park visitors. While visitors initially reported a few reservations about the shuttle system, by 2003, the majority rated the system successful. Ratings of all shuttle-related variables, except crowding, improved over the decade. Improvements were greatest for freedom, accessibility, and efficiency. Multiple regression found overall shuttle success to be mediated by preference, freedom, accessibility, efficiency, and comfort. Experiential variables assessing park conditions followed a similar pattern, with improved ratings as the decade progressed. Results provide important insights into the visitor experience with mandatory alternative shuttle systems in national parks.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported with the help from numerous undergraduates enrolled in Field Studies in Environmental Psychology in partnership with Southern Utah University, the National Park Service, and the town of Springdale, Utah. The authors wish to recognize the insight provided by professors Luciane Berg, Les Jones, and Robert Eves in the development of the visitor survey. Students Val Swanson, Melanie Roberts, Adam Sessions, Yoko Watanabee, and Heather Cox were extremely dedicated research assistants who helped with data collection and processing. Gratitude is also expressed to the knowledgeable personnel at Zion National Park, especially Kristin Legg, Kezia Nelson, Jeff Bradybaugh, and Eddie Lopez who provided insight and direction on the shuttle system over the years. Thanks also to Parks Transportation, Inc., who operates the shuttle in Springdale and Zion National Park. A portion of this research was funded through the Faculty Scholarly Support Fund of Southern Utah University in conjunction with the Alliance for Education with Zion National Park.

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  1. Department of Psychology, Southern Utah University, Cedar City, UT, 84720, USA

    Britton L. Mace

  2. Department of Psychology, Utah State University, Logan, UT, 84322, USA

    Joshua D. Marquit & Scott C. Bates

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  1. Britton L. Mace
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Correspondence to Britton L. Mace.

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Mace, B.L., Marquit, J.D. & Bates, S.C. Visitor Assessment of the Mandatory Alternative Transportation System at Zion National Park. Environmental Management 52, 1271–1285 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-013-0164-z

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