The Hauraki Rail Trail is used by thousands each month.

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About 41,000 people cycled the year-old Hauraki Rail Trail this summer, and it is estimated users are generating at least $1.8 million a month for the trail's local economies.

Latest figures from the Hauraki District Council show that in January 12,000 people pedalled the trail that runs between Kopu, just south of Thames to branch either east to Waikino via the Karangahake Gorge, or south to Te Aroha.

In February 7000 used it; 13,000 in March and 9000 in April. The figures are approximate, said the council.

Meanwhile a Waikato University study commissioned by the Hauraki Rail Trail Trust has concluded total net incremental spending generated by the trail is conservatively estimated as around $1.8 million with a possible maximum of $2.8m.

The mean spend per cyclist was around $105. The report said these estimates were based on counters on the trail, which also include pedestrian traffic and which can be high at some parts of the track, hence the degree of uncertainty about the spend.

Trust chairwoman Teena Cornes said the $1.8m estimate was per month.

She said the report was good news in that it showed the trail, opened in May last year, was already attracting user numbers anticipated in five years time.

About 10,000 people a month were being clocked biking and walking the Paeroa to Waikino leg of the trail, she said.

The rail trail is one of the rides of the New Zealand Cycle Trail system, and follows an abandoned railway system in the Hauraki Gulf Plains and the Coromandel Peninsula.

It will be extended from Waikino to Waihi by the end of the year, the development overseer, the Hauraki District Council has said.

The report, based on a survey of 610 users between October and the end of March at several locations on the trail, found cyclists werre mainly aged 36-65, and about 22 per cent lived near the trail.

The level of satisfaction with the experience was very high at a mean score of 8.45 out of a maximum of 10. Of the total surveyed 86 per cent spent a day or less on the trail, with 79 users taking a two or three day ride.

Five planned to take four days.

About one-third of the survey sample defined themselves as infrequent leisure cyclists, and a further third said they were frequent leisure cyclists.

The remaining third were enthusiasts, including mountain and competitive riders. The main spenders on the trail were Aucklanders. Many riders had wanted new and more signs and signage, the report said.

It recommended the trust consider offering signs in languages other than English, including Mandarin.

Anecdotal responses suggested specific businesses along the trail had gained ndew customers and that the track has encourage business and long opening hours.

''In terms of economic impact, these appear to exceed $2 million and this is but the early stage in the track's development.''

The report said users from Auckland often required overnight accommodation in the area and were more likely to buy food and petrol in the region.

Word of mouth recommendation was likely to spur this market. Foreigners use of the track was still embyronic, the report said, and seemed to be dependent on word of mouth.

More cycle-specific web pages and links would support development of this market.