RELATIONSHIP OF THE VIEW AND THE BARRIER

Just as man-made attractions such as interpretive signs may influence visitor use of barriers, natural attractions such as the view may also have an effect. On the two-way portion of Rim Drive between Rim Village and North Junction are two sites which illustrate the relationship of a barrier and a view. An unnamed pull out 1.6 miles from Rim Village (Fig. 14) has an excellent view of the lake which is available if the visitor crosses the semi-permeable barrier and walks to the rim. All (100%) of the visitors who get out of their cars cross the barrier and view the lake from this point. This contrasts with the “Wizard Island” pull out 2.2 miles from Rim Village; few people (3%) cross the barrier here because an excellent view is available from the barrier (p<.o01).

Further illustration of the relationship between the barrier and the view can be shown by comparing three sites on the one-way portion of Rim Drive. (see Fig. 15). At the unnamed pull out .4 miles past “Red Cloud Cliff and Pumice Castle” the view from standing at the barrier is obstructed by trees. The best view is from on top of the barrier, and as a result, 17% of the visitors who get out stand on the barrier. Standing on the wall gives added height, and most visitors then walk along the top of it until finding a space to view the lake between the trees.

At the “Grotto Cove” pull out the area between the parking lot and the caldera wall is a gentle slope. This slope obstructs the view of the lake, and consequently 40% of the visitors cross over the barrier to obtain a better view. In contrast, the barrier at the “Skell Head” pull out is placed near the edge of the caldera precipice and provides an excellent view of the lake by standing at the barrier. Most (95%) of the visitors who get out of their cars at this site stay at the barrier.

Figure 14. Relation between the view and the barrier.

Figure 15. Relation between the view and the barrier.

IMPLICATIONS FOR MANAGEMENT

If barriers are placed for safety, they may be made more effective by designing them to better meet visitor needs. If we want to keep visitors from crossing over a barrier, it should be placed so that it has the best possible view of the lake and of any other attractions such as interpretive signs. If we also want to keep visitors from sitting or standing on the barrier, it should be separated from the car and placed so that the best possible view is available from the “safe” side.

 

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