clear that income is but a weak barrier to participation
in cycling (table 1.02.04), a fact further substantiated
by table 1.15.

Considering only persons 25 years of age and
older, we find that as education increases, the
average number of days cycling increases, also,
reaching a peak among those with 1 to 3 years of
college, and dropping off for the group completing
college. This relationship is not uniform among
regions, and is due to heavier participation in the
West plus sampling variation, In any event we are
here considering only 14 percent of the cycling days
reported during the summer (table 1.02.04).

The nonwhite rate of cycling exceeds the white
for the United States as a whole (2.67 to 1.64 for
the white) and within each region, except the North-
east, The difference is greatest in the West where
the nonwhite rate is 6.65 compared with 1.58 for the
white, In the South the nonwhite population is almost
all Negro, but in the West almost one-half of the
nonwhite population consists of other races (Indian,
Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, etc,), A possible explana-
tion for the lower rate in the Northeast lies in the
concentration of the Negro population in large cities
where cycling participation is typically lower,

The nonwhite male rate (3.42) exceeds the white
male rate (1.88) and the nonwhite female rate (1.99)
exceeds the white female (1.41). (See table 1.03.04,}

Cycling and impairments

Persons with limiting impairments cycle quite
infrequently (0.53 days per person for the summer),
but those whose impairments are not limiting cycle
almost as frequently as those who have no impairments
(1.69 to 1.90), Cyclists reporting their health to be
good or excellent cycle at higher rates than those
who report their health as fair or poor. In fact,
95 percent of the population 12-17 years of age
report themselves to be in good or better health, so
that there is no basis to compare cycling rates
among these with poor health (table 1.04.04).

Table 2 shows the relationship between the respond-
ent's assessment of his health and annual days
participation in bicycling. For age groups producing
sufficient occasions for computation, the relationship
with health is quite clear cut.

Table 2. Annual days participation per person in
bicycling by age, for males according to state of
health, June 1960-May 1961

‘Age in years
Health all | 1217 | te-4a | a5.¢4 [65 and
over
All. 6.65] 39.66] 1.06] 0.39] 0.15
Excellent. 11.49] 43.03 113 3% 09
Good . 4.52] 32.35 114 54 AB
Fair 2261 (2 TT) 34 «02
Poor 03 A} ey] YL

Yess than 0.005 days per person, or omitted because of in-
sufficient sample size. (Source: Tables 1.04.04, 2.04.04,
3.04.04, and 4.04.04.)

12

Differences between regions for the summer are
small. The North Central region has a slightly
higher participation level (2.00 per person) while the
Northeast has the lowest regional rate (1.45 per
person). (See table 1.02.04.)

For the United States as a whole, the summer
rate is slightly higher outside standard metropolitan
areas than within them (1.86and1.67). This difference
is consistent across regions, except in the South,
where the SMA rate of 2.08 exceeds the rate for the
population outside SMA (1.44), Within SMA’s the
rural residents of the area participate more heavily
than the urban, except, again, in the South where its
large city rate is greater, Outside the SMA’s,
however, the small city rate exceeds the rural
uniformly in each region.

The explanation of the above differences rests partly
upon variations in the age composition of theseareas.
Lower rates for the rural population outside SMA’s
results also from either income differences or
preference, perhaps both.

Considering only the age group 12-17 years, inclu-
sive, residents of the small city outside SMA’s par-
ticipate heavily in cycling (16.00 for males and 11.6
for females), Boys living in cities of 1 million or more
cycle an average of 12.78 days during the summer
compared with 5.88 for girls of the same ages living
in the same areas, The next highest rate is for boys
in all rura] areas (11.50 days per person}, followed
by rural girls (9.49), This boy-girl variation accord-
ing to place of residence may reflect the difference
in the protection accorded girls in large cities, or
other limitations upon their recreation pattern, The
difference does not exist in the same order among
residents of small cities (less then 50,000) nor in
rural areas, as is shown by the following ratio of
average boy participation per day to participation per
day by girls:

Au wees on
Urban, SMA, over 1 million... ..
Urban, SMA, under 1 million ....
Urban, not in SMA ....
Rural... 2.2... oe

Pee
wip ip

Source: Table 1.03.04,

Only about 18 percent of the cycling days during the
summer were by employed persons 14 years of age
and over. But within this group the occupation par-
ticipating most are the service workers. Professional
and technical workers participate least, Although
there are a few such differences, occupation does not
appear as a useful basis for analyzing cycling rates
(tables 1.02.04 and 1.03.04),

Considering all outdoor activities, cycling is low in
the preference order, only 3 percent of the population
expressing ‘‘some”’ preference for itas a general out-
door activity (a combination of first, second, andthird
choices), It ranks with hiking, nature walks, and at-
tending outdoor concerts, drama, etc. In terms of
occasion, it is almost altogether an activity chosenfor
the 2 to 3 hour period, rather than for a day outing or
a longer period of time (table 1.21).

The relationship between cycling participation dur-
ing summer and participation in other activities is



horseback riding one or more times during the sum-
mer. This places horseback riding 11th in the pref-
erence order, When considered according to time
available, the percentage preferring horseback riding
does not vary, each type of occasion receiving 1 per-
cent of the preferences, One would have expected the
2 to 3 hour period to receive more preference indi-
cations. The frequency of preference selection does
not allow us to examine characteristics of those pre-
ferring horseback riding, except in terms of partici-
pation in other activities (table 1.21).

Since horseback riding is an activity engaged in
chiefly by young persons, one would expect it to be
associated with those outdoor activities in which young
people like to engage. For example, as participation
in bicycling increases, so does the preference mention
of horseback riding (from 5 percent preferring horse~
back riding among those who participate zero days in
bicycling to 16 percent for those who participate
heavily in bicycle riding). The same relationship holds
for those participating in swimming, and to a lesser
extent in camping, boating, driving for pleasure, hiking,
hunting, sightseeing, and picnicking. Thus, participa-
tion in a wide variety of activities is associated with
preference for horseback riding. This is particularly
true for vigorous activities (table 1.12).

Among those who prefer horseback riding, one fourth
participate as often as they would like, Twenty-six
percent of those who donot participateas often as they
would like feel that they are restricted by financial
limitations and 23 percent by a lack of time. Facili-
ties, evidently meaning availability of horses and paths,
was mentioned by 15 percent of the group preferring
horseback riding. Six percent mentioned an inability
to ride (table 1.148).

It would appear, then, that cost of engaging as well
as time to engage share equally as important restric-
tions upon engaging in horseback riding.

Reasons for not riding more often

Among those who have tried horseback riding but do
not like it, about one third mentioned fear as the reason
for not continuing to engage. The next most frequent
factor mentioned was dislike of being around horses.

Among those who prefer horseback riding, the per-
centage participating as often as they would like is
about equally distributed by income (32 percent among
the group earning less than $3,000 annually compared
to 29 percent among those earning $10,000 or more).
Similarly, the most frequent reason given for not en-
gaging as often as they would like is time or money,
mentioned about equally for each income group. The
group earning $10,000 or more mentioned a lack of
facilities (22 percent) as compared with only 2 percent
mention of facilities by those having incomes less than
$3,000 annually. Almost 60 percent of the income
group earning iess than $3,000 mentioned time or
money as being the chief restriction (table 1.13).
Thus, it would appear that increases in income and,
leisure time will create more horseback riding occa-
sions, particularly in areas where trails and horses
are plentiful.

Rental of a horse for occasional rides is possible for
those with moderate incomes, but owning a horse in an
urban environment may require considerable outlay,

15

particularly for feed and stall charges. Such expend-
itures may not be as great in rural areas where feed
is more plentiful. In general, the cost of horseback
riding probably is greater than costs for many other
outdoor activities.

Riding horses is an outdoor activity in which one
usually would engage for 2 or 3 hours, although treks
across country might take longer. Great exertion is
not required to ride a horse for a brief period, al-
though moderate physical exertion certainly is re-
quired. One may mount and ride with little skill or one
may possess considerable skill in handling the steed.
Furthermore, by varying the animal, the terrain on
which one rides, and the time involved, one may con-
tinuously create new challenges to improve horseback
riding skills. In general, however, the basic skills
required for proper control and manipulation of the
animal as well as the physical responses necessary on
the part of the rider in order to make the activity en-
joyable, are minimal and once acquired, may be elab-
orated upon without undue effort,

Status achievement through participation perhaps is
high in urban areas, particularly among middle and
upper class groups. In rural America, on the other
hand, status may beachieved through possession of un-
usualiy fine animals, through skillful performance, or
related activities, rather than merely from horseback
Tiding itself. A variety of motives may be served by
riding. One may ride primarily because the exercise
gained is within one’s capacity without overtaxing one’s
strength, Another motive may be love of animals: the
pleasure of attaining coordination of movement between
rider and horse creates an affinity between man and
beast, Where one rides in a group with others, soci-
ability cannot be minimized, for such undoubtedly isa
strong motive for many occasions. A desire for new
experience motivates horseback riding occasions
which take one over new terrain or into unfamiliar
areas. Horseback riding, also, may be a means for
sightseeing, picnicking, hunting, and related activities.

The number of horses on farms has declined from
about 10 million in 1942 to 3,089,000 in 1960, the latter
figure also including mules. The decline suggests a
decrease in the use of animals for work on farms,
rather than a decline in horseback riding for pleasure.
The California Recreation Survey 3/ estimated approx-
imately 267,300 riding horses in the State (1958).
‘Using this figure and applying the National Recreation
Survey rates of participation to the California popula-
tion provides an estimate of 40 occasions per horse
for the June-August period. If this rate of horse util-
ization for pleasure rides by the population 12 years
of age and over is generalizable to the Nation,
1,378,000 horses are required for riding purposes.
From the Census of Agriculture, 2,224,000 horses of
all types (work and riding horses), are on farms but
this does not include an unknown number of rental
riding horses not on farms. In short, except to indi-
cate that the supply of horses appears to exceed that
needed to meet thecurrent demand for pleasure riding,
the data on supply of horses are not sufficiently pre-
cise for study.

‘California Public Outdoor Recreation Plan, Part II," Sac-
ramente, Calif.: Documents Section, State of California, 1960.



One-third who prefer golf play as often as they
would like. Those who do not play as often as they
would like are restricted chiefly by time (42 percent).
The lack of facilities and the lack of financial ability
do not appear to restrict participation among those
who already prefer golf, according to the respondent’s
report. However, those reporting a time or money
restriction have median incomes $1,000 less than
those who participate freely. Median age of those
preferring golf is relatively high (38.5 for males,
and 35.5 for females). (See table 1.15.)

Preference for baseball

Forty-five percent of those who prefer baseballare
able to play as often as they would like. Thirty-
one percent of those who prefer baseball feel that
they are limited by time and 10 percent mention
the lack of facilities. This is a young group (median
age for males 16.5 years), The median income of
those participating freely ($6,300) is considerably
higher than the median income of those whofeel some
money or time restriction ($4,700), attesting to the
reason behind the restriction (table 1.15).

Twenty-four percent of those who prefer tennis as
an outdoor activity play as often as they would like.
Time, also, is mentioned most frequently as the
restricting factor (33 percent), but the absence or
lack of facilities is mentioned by as many as 22
percent of those who prefer tennis. Nine percent
mention financial restrictions, and another 9 percent
feel that they lack skill or ability to play. Thus,
programs to improve skill undoubtedly would increase
participation.

‘About one half of persons preferring to play othér
outdoor games and sports do so as oftenas they would
like, and 30 percent of those who prefer other
games and sports feel that they are restricted by
time. Very few mention other restrictions.

Generally, time is the chief factor restricting
greater participation in these outdoor games and
sports, The next most serious restriction is lack of
facilities, particularly for tennis and baseball (table
1.14B). The median income of those who participate
freely in baseball is higher than for those who
report a time or money restriction but not for
“‘other’? games and sports (table 1.15).

The only item of recreation equipment used for games
in the survey was a golf set. Fourteen percent of
respondents said a golf set was available inthe house-
hold. Seven percent said they had used the set within
the past year. (The difference between these
percentages does not represent the percent of unused
golf sets in the household, for some household
member other than the respondent may have used
it.) (See table 5.47.)

Possession of a golf set is directly relatedto family
income, From the lowest income class with 1.1
percent reporting a set, ownership steps up to 2.4,
to 5.4, and so forth, to 64.2 percent for the $20,000
or more income class. This direct relationship of
ownership to income is consistent for each size
of place of residence class, although the magnitude
of the percentage varies (tables 5.47 and 5.48).

Ownership of a golf set is somewhat more frequent
in the North Central region, 17 percent of the

nu

respondents in the area reporting the presence of
a golf set in the household. The South has the lowest
percentage, 9 percent. Persons living in standard
metropolitan areas of 1 million and in rural territory
of standard metropolitan areas report the highest
percentage of ownership, 17 percent, whereas other
rural residents report the lowest, 6 percent,

The active young people who play games and sports
also engage frequently in other active outdoor sports.
Correlation is significantly different from zero with
all of the major summer activities. However,
unusually high association is observed with swimming
(0.42), bicycling (0.36), attending outdoor sports
events (0.33), and picnicking (0.26). (See appendix
A, table 3c.)

BICYCLING

In America, bicycling is almost altogether an
activity of youth. Of all the cycling days engaged
in by our sample during the summer, 1960, only
18 percent were by persons older than 17 years.
Nine percent of the population reported engaging,
but only 3 percent of the population indicated some
preference for cycling, The population as a whole
engaged 1.75 days (during the 3 summer months,
1960), but the age group 12-17 cycled on an average
of 10 days. Boys are more active cyclists than girls.
Participation is slightly greater outside metropolitan
areas than within them. The rate of participation
increases to the $3,000 to $4,499 family income
group, and then gradually declines as income increases.
Nonwhites cycle more than whites. There are very
few cyclists who do not rate their health as good or
excellent.

The population as a whole engages in cycling at a
rate of 5.15 occasions per person for the entire
year. Cycling during summer is more frequent
(1.75 occasions per person) than the fall (0.93 per
person) or winter (0.87 per person). In the spring
there are 1.6 occasions per person. The annual
cycling rate is highest in the Northeast (5.38) and
South (5.32), (See tables 1.01, 2.01, 3.01, and 4.01.)

Bicycling is engaged in almost completely by the
younger age groups. Of all the cycling participation
days during the summer, 82 percent was reported by
those 17 years of age or less; the participation
rates for older ages are insignificant by comparison.
As a consequence, any differences reported below
which may be associated with income, region,
residence, or other factors, reflect in part whatever
differences which may exist in the age composition
of these groups, Among age groups above 17 years,
the rate of participation declines with age (table
1.02.04),

By family income, rates increase from the lowest
income class to the $3,000 to $4,499 class and there-
after decline. This relationship, also, is complicated
by differences in percentage of persons under 18
years of age among income classes. The lower
three income groups contain disproportionate shares
of older persons, perhaps retired on small incomes,
as is presented for the summer sample, appendix C,
table 1. In the South the peak participation level is
reached among the $8,000 to $9,999 income class.
With this age-income association, the evidence is



shown below. Displayed, also, are percent of cyclists
expressing ‘‘some’’? preference for various other
activities.

Table 3. Correlation of cycling participation with

activities, and percentage preference for

jes by degree of participation in cycling, June-
August 1960

Percentage express-
ing “some” pref-

Correlation
coefficient” | erence by days
participation in
cycling
0 116 17 or
more
036} (1 (27) (4

Playing games .

2B 9 72 74
.22 2 3 Vv

- A7 3 2 2
Attending sports events 6] 12 9 9
Walking for pleasure 16] 9 6

WS 5 18 16
13 4 26 uv

Horseback riding .
Picnics .

Boating . a2] on] 12 8
Camping UW} ow} nf 23
for pleasure 09! a7] on 8

ishing . slo} 34] 18] 32
Sightseeing 8) wl 9 2
Water skiing . 06] 4) 2 5

Vthe voriable used was the square root of the number of days
participation during the summer source, appendix A, table 3c.
Preferences not available for playing games.

This table demonstrates the youthful nature of the
other activities of cyclists. Playing games, swim-
ming, and hiking are the activities most highly cor-
related with bicycling. These require vigor. Prefer-
ence for swimming, hiking, and camping shows a
positive association with cycling participation. Pref-
erences negatively associated with cycling participa-
tion are the less demanding and more sedentary
activities: walking for pleasure, picnicking, driving
for pleasure, and sightseeing. That is, although par-
ticipation in these activities shows a significant
association with cycling, the cyclist’s preference for
them suggests that they are not his favorite outdoor
activities. Except for these four activities, any of the
other activities would be engaged in if opportunity
were afforded in relation to cycling. Thus, cycling or
hiking paths to fishing or swimming locations would
prove to be compatible with the interests of the youthful
participant (table 1.12),

Fifty-six percent of those who prefer cycling say they
engage as often as they would like. Those who feel
that they would like to participate more often give
reasons which were classified as either financial (24
percent) or time (12 percent) as a basis for being
restricted (tables 1.14B and 1.13).

The motivation to cycle probably arises from sev-
eral factors. Among young people the mere fact that
others go cycling is sufficient motivation, The joy in
physical activity, movement, and the associated change
of scene, the opportunity which bicycling affords to

13

explore new places and byways—each undoubtedly con-
tributes to the desiretocycle. Possession ofa bicycle
probably adds to the youngster’s status within his age
group, particularly when he first learns to ride, With
increasing age these status-giving properties un-
doubtedly decline. After initially learning to ride,
some additional skill can be acquired. Indeed, there
are elaborations in skill, suchas guiding without hands
on the handlebars (‘*Look, Mom, no hands!’ ), or emu-
lation of tricks of the vaudeville master cyclist, but
these increments of. skill are not generally pursued.
Considering that the cyclist may adjust speed and
physical exertion to a comfortable energy output, the
level of physical activity may be classedas moderate.
One may engage for as long a period as one chooses,
but undoubtedly most occasions of bicycle riding are
for 2 to 4 hours, as thepreference data show, the ride
being liberally broken with rest periods, All-day ex-
cursions or treks of several days, which are not
typical, would require more intensive physical exer-
tion, Considering the relationship between participa-
tion and income, previously described, the general
availability of bicycles, and their low maintenance
cost, bicycles undoubtedly are available to all but the
lowest income group. The great opportunity to in-
crease cycling participation lies among the 18-44 age
group. Perhaps journeys by family groups would be
possible if paths free of other traffic are provided,
and if hostels or camping facilities are made avail-
able. This has been realized in several European
countries, 2/

HORSEBACK RIDING

Only 6 percent of the population went horseback
riding one or more times during the summer 1960,
This was 0.42 occasions per person. Participation
in the spring is as frequent as thesummer, but during
fall and winter the average occasions per person is
about 0.2. Thus, annually, horseback riding occurs at
a rate of 1.25 occasions. Participation is about twice
as frequent in the West as in the rest of the country.
the West participating 0.88 occasions per person for
the summer, The South participates next most fre-
quently, the rate being about half that of the West.
Thus, horseback riding is associated with rurality and
with open spaces (tables 1.01, 2.01, 3.01, and 4.01).

Even though the male rides slightly more than the
female, nationally, his rate of participation is appre-
ciably greater only in the South, which includes Texas.
On the other hand, in the Northeast the female rate is
about four times that of the male. In the other two
regions the participation rate is quite similar for the
sexes (table 1.02.10).

The younger ages, 12 to 17 years, participate in
horseback riding at rates significantly higher than
other ages, Generally, the rate declines with age,
participation being quite insignificant for those over
65. This age pattern is fairly uniform across each
region for both male and female. There are two in-
teresting variations. Inthe West, the male participates
in each age group through 64 at rates considerably
higher than those for the same age groups in other

2/See ORRRC Study Report 18.



CHAPTER TWO

PHYSICALLY ACTIVE RECREATION OF YOUTH

Youth are active outdoor recreationists—playing
outdoor games and sports, bicycling, and horseback
riding. The factor analysis reported in appendix A
also shows swimming and attending outdoor sports
events to be highly associated with this congeries
of activities.

These are the outdoor diversions of youth. Age
by sex for each region (appendix A table 12) provides
the most reliable basis for estimating the combined
participation in these activities, according to the
regression analysis. The ‘‘active’’ score combined
from these activities can be predicted with greater
precision than any other factor, Between 30 and 45
percent of the total variance is accounted for by
regression on age and other factors shown in appendix
A, table 12. Income, occupation, and education (for
those 25 years and older), possess very little predictive
power. The reason, of course, is that bicycling,
playing outdoor games and sports, and so forth, are
primarily activities of the younger ages. Because
of this we must look to age, urbanization, sex,
and similar demographic factors to account for
variation in the participation rates in the individual
activities.

This chapter discusses playing outdoor games and
sports, bicycling, and horseback riding. Swimming
and attending outdoor sports events are reported in
other sections, although the factor loadings assigned
to them for this ‘‘active”’ factor is high.

In general, adults engage least in these activities.
Adults provide the greatest opportunity for increases
in participation, Playing fields in urban places
undoubtedly are required for increases in playing
outdoor games and sports, but trails are the primary
requisite for increases in bicycling and horseback
riding. The bicycle tour along trails free of motor
vehicles in areas with convenient camping facilities
or hostels may readily become a popular family
outing, as in Europe. Planning of routes is needed.
Perhaps areas of historical importance should be
the initial focus of such a program, in order to
combine educational interests with recreation, such
as Lancaster County, Pa., the Natchez-Woodville
Area, Miss., the Charleston, S.C. country, trails
to the colonial and revolutionary war scenes of
New England, and the Chesapeake and Ohio canal
trail along the Potomac River.

PLAYING OUTDOOR GAMES OR SPORTS

Some games may be played in less than an hour;
others may last for 2 to 3 hours or even all
day. The amount of physical activity or exertion
required varies from moderate to high with the
game. Similarly, some games require considerable
skill, as golf or baseball, and require practice to
maintain this skill. On the other hand, one may

play without achieving a high level of skill, although
enjoyment of the game and acceptance by team-
mates often rest upon one’s ability to perform
skillfully. Except for the purchase of the necessary
equipment, many games require very little expenditure,
In some instances the equipment may be supplied
by the school or organization sponsoring the game,
or may be shared by teammates. Such might be the
case for a sand-lot baseball game among neighborhood
boys. Golf, polo, and similar games not only require
considerable equipment, but also a course or playing
field which must be appropriately marked and
maintained. Hence, membership in an organization or
club which provides such facilities or the payment
of a fee upon each occasion is necessary to participate.
Consequently, the monetary outlay for various games
differs not only with the type of game but also with
age, social status, level of skill, and perhaps other
factors associated with the player. Playing games
is similar to fishing in this respect—one may engage
quite economically without any expenditure or one
may spend a great deal on a single occasion.

Status is associated with different games. Because
boats must be maintained‘and time is required to
learn to manipulate the boat, sailing and racing
are prestigeful sports, Similarly, the image of
polo playing is associated with the higher economic
groups. Although tennis is quite popular, relatively
speaking, perhaps a higher degree of status accrues
from playing tennis than, for example, sand-lot
baseball, or croquet. In general, playing a particular
sport is a means of status achievement, and the
sports themselves are evaluated in some hierarchy
of prestige. Greater prestige accrues with greater
skill.

One’s degree of skill, normally, is improved with
practice, Consequently, skill improvement offers a
challenge to the individual. Undoubtedly there are
other motives for a given game. One may enjoy
the game because of mere pleasure in physical
exercise, skill achievement, or in attaining or main-
taining status as a teammate, One may play to bet
on the outcome of one’s score, to win a prize, or
to defeat an opponent, Such motives undoubtedly
stimulate the widespread interest in games and sports.

Playing outdoor games or sports is the third most
frequently engaged in activity, on an annual rate
basis. The annual rate is 12.7 occasions per person
for the year, compared with walking for pleasure
17.9, and driving for pleasure, 20.7 (tables 1.01,
2.01, 3.01, and 4.01).1/

s, unless otherwise specified, are to port Il.
on the left designates the survey: (1) September
1960; (2) December 1960; (3) March 1961; (4) June 1961.



regions. There also is a higher participation rate
among females 18 to 44 in the Northeastern States,
evidently reflecting the popularity of horseback riding
among what has been popularly termed the ‘horsey
set’, as well as girl’s boarding schools. Horseback
riding, indeed, is a young person’s activity (table
1.02.10).

The pattern of decreasing participation with age,
both for male and female, is repeated within each size
of place of residence class. Rural males 18-44 years,
participate more than males living in urban places
(table 1.03.10),

The percentage of the population engaging in horse-
back riding increases with family income successively
for each income class, but the rate, as measured in
days per person for the summer, does not similarly
show a consistent increase, However, below the $4,500
annual income class participation is considerably less
than for income groups above that amount. This pat-
tern varies considerably by region. While it char-
acterizes fairly well participation inthe Northeast and
North Central States, participation levels in the West
are higher among lower income groups than higher
income groups. In the South participation is higher
among the $4,500 to $6,000 income group than income
groups above and below that income class. In sum-
mary, the frequency of engaging in horseback riding
increases with income, with the important condition
that region has an important impact upon participation
in the activity, The South and West, where evidently
opportunity and facilities are more plentiful, engage
more frequently (table 1.02.10).

When examined by size of place of residence, gen-
erally, the same relationships hold. However, the
number of days participation is greater for lower
income groups in rural areas than urban places.
Residents of small cities earning $4,500 to $6,000
have a high participation rate, as also do the upper
income classes in rural areas of the West. Since these
data chiefly reflect participation among young people
under 25 years of age, we are examining the activities
of youth, Rural areas and small cities evidently afford
greater ease of participation and, perhaps, cheaper
participation than is the case inlargercities. For the
same income classes, participation rates are higher
in rural areas and in small citiesthanin larger urban
places (table 1.03.10).

Horseback riding and color

The nonwhite population participates slightly more
than the white population, although differences are of
doubtful significance (0.52 days per person compared
with 0.41). The greater nonwhite participation is al-
together due to the higher nonwhite participation in the
West, where the nonwhite population participates at a
rate of 4.1 days per person compared with 0.7 for the
white population in the West. One presumes that this
reflects chiefly the Indian and Oriental participation
there, In other regions, the white is greater than the
nonwhite, particularly in the Northeast and North Cen-
tral regions (table 1.02.10).

When color is considered by size of place of resi-
dence, the same pattern prevails, with the nonwhite
rate being superior in rural areas (1.39 compared
with 0.58 for white), The difference is due chiefly to

14

greater participation of the nonwhite male in rural
areas, because generally the white rate is greater
than the nonwhite for all other place of residence clas-
ses. The nonwhite female participates less, relative
to the nonwhite male, than does the white female rela-
tive to the white male (table 1.03.10).

The actual percentages of the population 12 years
of age and over engaging in horseback riding are only
5 or 6 percent for the size of place of residence
classes. However, when examined in terms of days
participation per person, greater variation is evident,
showing the urban population in standard metropolitan
areas to engage considerably less than the urban popu-
lation outside of standard metropolitan areas and,
especially, than the rural population (table 1.03.10).

This pattern generally typifies each region, and is
especially pronounced in the West. All classes con-
sidered, the participation rate per person for the sum-
mer increases from 0.17 in cities of over 1 million,
to 0,19 for cities under 1 million, to 0.57 for smaller
urban places, and, finally, to 0.65 for rural areas.

Thus, the joint consideration of income, region, and
size of place of residence, suggests that available
space and animals in the South and West make par-
ticipation possible even among low income groups and
that the same opportunity does not exist in the North-
east and perhaps North Central regions. Since these
data are for summer, variations due to weather are
relatively constant.

Persons 25 years of age and over account for only
17 percent of the total horseback riding occasions re-
ported on the survey during the summer. The rate
of engaging among this group increases, generally,
with number of years education, although the rates
appear somewhat unstable across regions. Years of
schooling seem to have more effect in the Northeast
and less in the West, where rates are about equally
as high irrespective of years schooling (table 1.02.10).

For the labor force, farmworkers in the West engage
at a rate of two occasions for the summer, while
service workers and laborers in the West engage more
frequently than they do in other regions. Professional
workers in the West also engage fairly frequently (1.13
occasions per person). The next most frequent par-
ticipant is the white-collar worker in the Northeastern
States (0.94 occasions per person), By occupation
these are the outstanding participants in the Nation;
the remaining variations by occupation are not great,
and the frequencies are low (table 1.02.10).

When examined by size of place of residence and
occupation, the white-collar workers in rural areas
show the highest participation, but rates are generally
low and donot warrant detailed analysis (table 1.03.10).

Since horseback riding is chiefly engaged in by
younger persons, it is not surprising tofind that chiefly
those who report good health or better engage in the
activity. The number of days per person declines with
the reported state of health both for males and females
and for each age group (table 1.04.10).

Neither do persons with limiting impairments go
horseback riding. The rate among those with no im-
pairments is 0.47 compared with 0.25 for those who
have impairments that are not limiting.

Six percent of the population indicate ‘‘some”’ pref-
erence for horseback riding, a high proportion con-
sidering that only 6 percent of the population went



The rate is somewhat higher in the summer and
spring than in the fall and winter, but these reflect
seasonal variations in the Northeast and North Central
regions rather than less intense rates of participation
during winter months in the South and West.

Games and sports during summer

During the summer 1960, 30 percent of the population
participated one or more times in an outdoor game
or sport, The percentage participating varies steeply
with age, the percentage being 70 percent for those
12 to 17 years of age (males), and declines abruptly
to 2 percent for those males 65 years of age and
over (table 1.02.14).

The same association with age is shown by partici-
pation rates: a high of 18.27 summer occasions
per person for the 12 to 17 year age group to 0.28
ocassions per person for males 65 and over, The
rate for females similarly declines, although the
overall rate for females (2.28) is less than males
(5.08).

The rates by age and sex for each region show
the same picture (table 1.02.14).

The same steep decline in rate of participation
by age and sex is observed, also, when the data are
viewed according to size of place of residence
(table 1.03.14).

Fifty-four percent of all occasions of outdoor
games and sports are reported by boys and girls
12 through 17 years of age. This has a significant
effect upon other relationships we shall consider,
particularly income, to which we now turn.

Family income shows a strong association with
participation in outdoor games and sports, increasing
from 0.74 occasions per person for the income
group of less than $1,500 annually to 6.4 ocassions
for the group whose families earn more than $15,000
annually, However, the chief increase occurs between
the lowest income group and the group earning $6,000,
Thereafter (for higher income groups), the rate of
increase is less, Although for each region the rate
increases in general as income increases, the ‘‘trend’’
by no means is uniform, particularly for the South
and West. In the South, for example, there are two
peaks to the distribution, one for the $1,500 to
$2,999 income class and another for the $8,000 to
$9,999 income class, suggesting that there are two
widely spaced classes whose children play games
frequently.

In the West participation increases to the income
group beginning with $3,000 and then declines with
the $6,000 to $7,999 class, only to increase again
for higher income groups. Some of this variation
undoubtedly may be attributed to sampling, but it
is large enough to indicate significant differences
between income classes when viewed by region
(table 1.02.14),

‘The data suggest the universality of playing outdoor
games among all income groups except the very
lowest. The latter exception may be a function of
the age composition of the lowest income class.
Upper income groups participate somewhat more
heavily. Both of these findings reflect the variation

in the proportion of children under 18 years and of
the population 65 and older in these income groups,
as the appendix C table shows.

Residence effects

Participation is higher in standard metropolitan
areas than elsewhere: 4.11 compared with 3.61 in
small urban places, and 3.06 in rural areas. Thus,
playing outdoor games or sports engages more time
and more people in large urban places than in small
urban places or rural areas (table 1.03.14).

Now, viewed according to income of families in
cities of over 1 million, those earning less than
$3,000 annually participate very little (1.58 occasions
during the summer) and members of families earning
over $15,000 annually participate quite heavily (9.65
during the summer), Between these two extremes,
the participation level is fairly uniform (varying
from 3.74 to 5.11), Standard metropolitan areas
under 1 million have a more varied pattern. The
less than $3,000 income group has a fairly high
participation rate (4.35), and as income increases,
the rate declines except for a higher rate among
those earning $6,000 to $7,999 annually, then a slight
decline and an increase among those earning over
$15,000 annually (5.50). This irregular pattern within
cities 50,000 to 1 million undoubtedly reflects age
as well as some regional variation, since we find
that the rates vary by region for cities of this class
(a low of 2,5 for the West and a high of 5.1 for the
North Central). It also is possible that low income
areas in cities of this class have superior opportunities
for participation, not present in other urban places
(table 1.03.14).

The small urban place (less than 50,000) participates
at a fairly high rate among all income groups
except those earning less than $3,000, and hence,
in this respect, more closely resembles the pattern
of the large metropolis. Rural areas, similarly,
are fairly constant in participation level except the
lower income groups (less than $3,000 annually).

The nonwhite population engages at a rate somewhat
higher than the white (4.86 compared with 3.48).
This superiority of the nonwhite rate is observed
in each region except the Northeast, where the white
rate is greater (3.96 compared with 3.15). In the
West, particularily, the nonwhite rate of participation
is greater than the white (12.94 compared with 2.86),
The nonwhite rate maintains this superiority for each
size of place of residence class, except the rural,
where the rate is slightly higher for the white
(tables 1.02.14 and 1.03.14).

Nonwhite rates for both male and female are
greater than corresponding white rates (table 1.03.14).

In each of the regions the rural farm population
presents the lowest rates of playing outdoor games
or sports, On the other hand, the rural population
living near metropolitan places (SMA, rural popu-
lation) presents relatively high participation rates
for all regions except the West. In the West the
highest participation rate is in cities of more than
1 million population (Los Angeles and San Francisco
here being the ones represented), with a participation
of 5.33 per person for the summer months. Since
Participation is so greatly age-related, the lack of



a consistent pattern across each region by size of
place of residence, undoubtedly reflects some of
the variation in age composition of these sub-
populations (table 1.02.14).

The rate of playing outdoor games or sports is
higher for the urban population than for the rural.
Games require groups and these are more readily
assembled in communities. This is true for each
region except the Northeast where the rural rate
(4.37) is greater than the urban (3.77). However,
there is no systematic decline in the rate of partici-
pation as one moves from the largest urban to the
most rural area, The rural farm population has the
lowest rate uniformly for each region (table 1.02.14).

Education and games

For the population 25 years or over, playing outdoor
games or sports is directly related to number of
years formal schooling, the rate increasing from
0.11 for those with less than 4 years of formal
schooling to 4.31 for those who have had 4 years or
more of college. With a few variations, the pattern
is followed in each region, Golf, tennis, and baseball
are the games receiving the greatest number of
preferences, and these most probably are sports
represented by high participation among the better
educated of the adult population.

Considered by occupation, farmworkers have quite
low rates (1.3 per person during the summer) while
professional, technical, and kindred workers have
the highest rate (4.18), The remaining occupational
categories cluster about the mean occasions per
person during summer for all employed persons
14 years of age and over. This pattern is fairly
consistent within each of the regions except the
South where managers, officials, and proprietors
(except farm) and service workers have higher
participation rates (table 1.02.14).

Professional, technical, and kindred workers have
relatively high rates within each size of place of
residence class. Service workers have unusually low
rates in large cities but relatively high rates in other
urban places. Managers and officials in rural areas
have the highest rate of participation. Since we
have a variation in the type of sports played (e.g.
baseball, as well as golf) one would expect fewer
systematic relationships within the adult population,
and such is the case (table 1.03.14).

Among both male and female, the rate of participation
declines with the respondent’s assessment of his
health. For example, males who rate their health
as excellent play on 8.5 occasions duritig the summer,
as compared with 0.01 among those who rate their
health as poor. This relationship holds systematically
for cock major age group, and for both sexes (table
1.04.14),

In a like manner, the presence of impairments or
limiting impairments tends to depress the participation
rate. For some age groups, however, persons who
have impairments that are not limiting participate
in outdoor games or sports heavier than those with
no impairments (table 1.04.14),

Eight percent of the population indicates a preference
for playing outdoor games or sports as their first
choice for outdoor recreation, 6 percent mentions it
second choice, and 5 percent third choice. Because
the first, second, and third choices contain an unknown
amount of duplication, it is not possible to sum these
3 percentages to give an overall percentage who
prefer playing outdoor games or sports. However,
playing outdoor games and sports probably ranks
about fifth in popularity, a position comparable to
sightseeing (table 1.21).

Playing outdoor games and sports is most frequently
preferred for a period of 2 to 3 hours (11 percent).
For short periods of time, a game or sport takes
its place in the preference order along with walking
for pleasure and swimming, for the summer, each
being only slightly less popular than driving for
pleasure,

The second most preferred time for playing outdoor
games and sports is on a day’s outing, 5 percent of
the population so mentioning. However, 3 percent
each prefer outdoor games or sports as an activity
for a weekend trip or on a vacation.

Among the activities mentioned, golf was named
most frequently (4 percent), and baseball, next (3 per-
cent). Tennis was also mentioned fairly often (table
1.21).

Playing outdoor games or sports was mentioned
as a preference slightly more frequently by the urban
population than the rural, and slightly morefrequently
in large city areas (standard metropolitan areas)than
in rural territory (table 1.17).

The preference order, like the participation rate,
decreases with age for both males and females.

Table 1. Percent of persons participating freely in outdoor games or sports which ore preferred as outdoor activities,
and percent mentioning various restrictions on participation, June-August, 1960

Persons preferring outdoor games or sports
Reasons for not engaging more often—
Al Polen Facilities | Financial Time Ability Other

Ploying golf .. 100 33 8 7 a 3 7
Playing baseball 100 ts 10 2 31 3 10
Playing tennis .. 100 4 2 9 33 9 3
Playing other games or

sports .. 100 49 8 3 30 5 5

Sours

Table 1.14.

10