Trail use on the Luverne Loop has increased by more than 24 percent in the past three years as more phases of the city path are completed and as residents and visitors become more familiar with the trail.
Luverne Economic Development Authority Director Holly Sammons shared results from a bicycle and pedestrian counter on the Loop at the board’s September meeting.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation installed the counter on the Luverne Loop trail where the path curves from the St. Catherine’s Cemetery before the crosswalk at Highway 75 near the Veterans Home.
The counter tracked bike and pedestrian traffic from July 17 to Aug. 5, 2021.
Total bike and pedestrian traffic on the trail during this period was 1,606, with a peak of 126 on Sunday, July 18, 2021.
In 2018 the same bicycle and pedestrian counter was installed on the Loop near the same location during a similar date range.
Total bike and pedestrian traffic on the trail during this period in 2018 was 1,294, with a peak of 103.
The data shows 312 more people used the trail in 2021 than in 2018 for the time periods, which indicates an increase of 24 percent.
“Weather can play a role when collecting data,” Sammons said at the Sept. 13 meeting.
“For example, if there hadn’t been four days with air temperatures of 90 degrees or higher (with a peak high of 104 degrees on July 28) in 2021, trail use during this period in 2021 may have been even higher.”
The highest temperature in 2018 was 88 degrees on Aug. 3.
“This report is informative regarding use of the trail and provides valuable data as we plan and evaluate future trail improvements and funding opportunities,” Sammons said.
“This data also supports the efforts made to continue developing the trail system in Luverne and surrounding areas.”
She said she’ll sign up again for the MnDOT counter after the next phase of the Loop is completed in 2022.
That portion covers the southeast part of the city through the river ground area south of the city park continuing south and west toward Hatting Street where it will connect with the existing Loop path.
“I would say 2023 will be our first year of a full trail experience, so that’s when I’d like to get the counter again to probably put on that south end where people are exclusively using the Loop for that trail experience,” Sammons said.
“Sometimes on the north side they might just circle their neighborhood or circle the area by the hospital or residential area. So my goal is for 2023 to have a counter on the south end, because those people will be exclusively trail riders and walkers.”
She shared information about Luverne’s E-bike rentals from the Trailhead location at East Main Street and Blue Mound Avenue.
In June 2021 there were 122 rentals, in July there were 160 rentals and in August there were 144 rentals.
GPS tracking of the E-bikes shows that most riders are taking them up to the Blue Mounds State Park and then all the way around the Loop.
“Almost every mapped rental is the Loop, out to the State Park or both,” Sammons said.
The Roll On Luverne bike loan program also allows people to borrow traditional bikes for up to 24 hours to go biking on the Luverne Loop.
There are eight adult bikes, two adult trikes and four youth coaster bikes available for checkout day or night at the Grandstay Hotel & Suites front desk.