photoelectric traffic counters, pressure-plate counters, 

 and observers stationed along trails, provide information 

 about wilderness visitors. Nevertheless, traU registration 

 stations have the potential to provide considerably more 

 information (such as direction of travel, intended desti- 

 nation, length of stay, residence, nvunber in group), oper- 

 ate at all times, and are less expensive to establish and 

 service (Echelberger and others 1981). Given the costs of 

 other methods, it is worthwhile to examine reasons for 

 noncompliance in the voluntary registration system and 

 determine if comphance rates could be increased to a 

 useful level. The hterature was searched to identify fac- 

 tors that influence visitor registration. This done, two 

 factors of special significance (station location and sign 

 design) were selected for experimental manipulation to 

 determine the true influence of each and to determine if 

 comphance could be raised to satisfactory percentages. 



FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE 

 REGISTRATION RATES 



Registration depends on the visitor's wiUingness to 

 take the time and effort to fiU out a questionnaire. To be 

 successful, a message requesting the visitor to do this 

 must be effectively communicated. The visitor must be- 

 heve registering is worth the effort. Sign visibility, mes- 

 sage, maintenance, card design, and location all influence 

 the visitor to register. 



Sign Visibility 



Historically, signs have been designed to fit the 

 "wilderness experience," which seems to include muted 

 colors and rustic designs. Registration stations that 

 seem too "commercial" may offend users (Lucas and 

 Oltman 1971); however, it is possible that the standard 

 Forest Service sign is so unobtrusive that it fails to 

 catch the visitor's attention. The color and the place- 

 ment of the trail sign need to be such that the visitor 

 cannot miss it (Lucas and Kovahcky 1981). The horse 

 user must see the sign in time to make a controlled stop 

 before reaching the registration station. A sudden stop 

 with a pack string may be dangerous. User awareness of 

 the sign is also dependent on an adequate sight distance 

 along the trail, which will be discussed later. 



Sign Message 



Although sign color influences visibility, the message 

 itself is probably of greater importance. It has been 

 found that even a lack of information influences visitors 

 (Brown and Hunt 1969). Both horse users and hikers we 

 talked to suggested that there is a need for registration 

 information to be explained more fuUy. Leatherberry and 

 Lime (1981), in a study in Wisconsin, found that hikers 

 thought that the sign message should explain the need 

 for registering. Although sign wording varied in their 

 study, depending on whether the permits were voluntary 

 or mandatory, the basic message was "please register." 

 Nearly half of the Wisconsin users queried felt that com- 

 pliance would be improved if the sign explained the pur- 

 pose of registration and use of the information. Wenger 

 (1964) found that signs without explanation ehcited more 



"junk" (nonsensical hues, lewd comments, etc.). which 

 may have been due to a lack of understanding of the 

 purpose of registration. Users apparently do not reread 

 the sign on each visit, so it is critical that the message 

 be effective on the first reading. When registration is 

 voluntary, most visitors will register if they believe it is 

 worth their time and effort. 



Station Condition 



The effect of poor maintenance of registration facihties 

 is unknown, but it is probably significant in reducing 

 the registration rate. Lack of supphes, such as pencils 

 and cards, wiU prevent users from complying and will 

 give visitors a negative impression of the managing 

 agency's data collection effort. In the absence of sup- 

 phes, some visitors have tried to register by using their 

 own pencils and scraps of paper (Lucas 1983). 



Registration Card Design 



The visitor registration cards, which are standardized 

 and used nationally, may contribute to poor registration 

 rates and inaccurate information. The card can confuse 

 visitors because of awkward questions and smaU print 

 size (fig. 1). In addition, some of the questions may be ir- 

 relevant to the specific wilderness and the manager's 

 interests. 



Many visitors fiU out only the first few lines of the 

 registration card. Therefore, the most important 

 information— party size, length of stay, and 

 destination— should be asked before name and address 

 (questions 1 through 3 on the card). Then, even partially 

 fUled-out cards wiU supply the most vital information. If 

 the geographical distribution of the visitors is needed, 

 visitors could supply their Postal Service ZIP Code near 

 the end of the card. The standard form asks visitors "lo- 

 cation of entry point" (question 7). Stamping the name 

 of the traHhead on the card would eliminate visitor 

 responses such as "here" and ensure that the entry 

 point is correct. 



Question 12 asks visitors "number of watercraft or ve- 

 hicles." This is tnappUcable to most wildernesses and 

 should be eUminated where inappropriate. Allowing 

 managers to design their own registration cards would 

 enable them to ask relevant questions and would mini- 

 mize visitor annoyance. 



Half of the registration card is devoted to the visitor's 

 travel plan (question 13). Visitors are requested to code 

 their travel zones from a map that is not present at 

 trailheads. The visitor may therefore infer that the 

 agency is not seriously collecting data. As a result, most 

 visitors do not fill out half of the card. This section of 

 the card could be eUminated. If travel information is 

 desired, it may be gathered more accurately by wilder- 

 ness rangers through conversations at trailheads, along 

 trails, or at campsites. 



Removing the travel information, rewording or 

 eliminating awkward questions, and allowing managers 

 to incorporate questions more relevant to their wilder- 

 ness would greatly improve the registration card. The 

 most important questions should be answered first. All 

 questions should be printed in a large block type for easier 



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