Active Transportation

What is Active Transportation?

• Active transportation refers to any form of non-polluting, human-powered transportation 
• There are many modes and methods of travels that involve active transportation

§  Walking/jogging/running

§  Cycling

§  In-line Skating

§  Skateboarding

§  Wheelchairing

§  Snowshoeing

§  Skiing

Statistics:

• 62% of Grey Bruce residents are overweight or obese
• 87% of Canadian children and youth are not active enough for future health and well-being
• The Canadian Automobile Association estimates the cost of owning and operating a car to be $8945 a year. The cost of owning and operating a bicycle is a one-time cost of about $150.
• Canadians walk an average of 13 kilometres less each day than our ancestors did 50 years ago
• The average Canadian makes 2,000 car trips annually of 3 km or less
• Bruce County has the third highest rate of death from heart disease in Ontario. Grey County's incidence is more than 20% higher than the rest of the province.
• 88% of the Grey Bruce labour force travels to work by car, truck, or van
• Most children in Grey Bruce are driven to school either by bus or car

What are the Benefits of Active Transportation?

• Health – active transportation provides the opportunity to be active on a regular basis and as part of your daily routine. Stronger bones and muscles, improved self-esteem and sense of well-being while reducing stress and risk of chronic disease all benefit those who use active transportation.
• Environmental – active transportation can improve air quality and water quality while reducing green house gas emissions and global climate change. Less roadways and parking lots saves valuable green space
• Economic – active transportation saves money on parking, fuel and health care costs
• Social – active transportation increases social interactions, provides calmer, safer streets and reduces crime, traffic noise and congestion

When to Use Active Transportation:

• Think about the vehicle trips you take each day. Could you walk or bike instead? For trips of 1-3 kilometers, walking or cycling might actually be faster than driving a car.
• Consider biking to the park with your kids rather than driving
• Walk to school or work
• During daily errands (the mailbox, store or post office)
• To leisure activities

Active and Safe Routes to School:

Travelling to school can be seen as a chore and traffic congestion around schools creates an unsafe environment for students and motorists alike. Active & Safe Routes to School promotes the use of active and efficient transportation for the daily trip to school, addressing health and traffic safety issues while taking action on air pollution and climate change.

Benefits for students actively transporting to school include:

• Improved health, fitness and general well being

• Better able to learn about road safety and personal safety

• Developed friendships and social interaction skills

• Arrival at school alert and motivated to learn

• Familiar with their surroundings and neighbourhood

• Develop a sense of independence, responsibility and self confidence

“If just nine families participate regularly in a Walking School Bus over the course of a school year, they can collectively prevent almost 1,000 kg of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere.” (Active, Safe Routes to School)

FAQ’s (PDF)

Saving Money and Time with Active School Travel 

http://www.saferoutestoschool.ca/

iCANwalk: Green Communities Canada iCANwalk initiative

iCANwalk promotes walking and community walkability across Ontario. The aim of this initiative is to encourage active transportation for short trips to help reduce green house gas emissions, improve air quality, and create a greener, healthier community.

Here’s how you can get involved.

• Take the iCANwalk pledge! Use active transportation to get to work, school, shopping and for other short trips as often as possible.

• Use the Walkability Checklist to find out how walkable your community is.

http://www.icanwalk.ca/

Bike Walk to Work

The “Bike/Walk to Work Challenge” has been an annual event for seven years amongst Grey Bruce workplaces. Walking or biking to work is one way to become more physically active and improve active transportation in our area. If choosing to walk or bike to work the distance must be a minimum of a 15 minute walk/bike to work. The challenge runs for the month of June.

http://www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca/Physical/BikeAndWalkToWork/

Staying Safe While Walking

• If possible, use sidewalks. Where there are no sidewalks or trails, face traffic while you walk - be alert.
• Wear appropriate clothing and footwear for the season and weather conditions.
• Be sun savvy - wear a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen of at least SPF 30+
• At the beginning, let someone know where you're going and when you'll be back.
• Take note of any potential safety hazards (e.g. large holes/cracks in sidewalk, boulders on trails, crossing heavy traffic lanes, narrow or eroding shoulders)
• Walk dogs on short leashes

• Use crosswalks if available. Only cross the street at designated crossing areas.

• Stay visible at night and in low-light situations. Wear bright colors or reflective clothing, and at night, carry a light source such as a flashlight or a bike light to make yourself visible to motorists.

• Before crossing the street, look in both directions for traffic. Even if a driver appears to be slowing down, this may not be the case. Make eye contact with the drivers and wait for them to give you a signal that demonstrates that they acknowledge your presence.

• Keep children close. Teach kids about traffic safety, especially if they must walk on their own to school or to the bus stop. Teach them rules about playing near the street, such as never to chase after a stray toy.

Staying Safe While Cycling

Cyclists on roadways assume the same rights and responsibilities as motorists and must abide by the same traffic laws. Cyclists do have a right to be on the roadway, but they must ride in a responsible and predictable manner.

Cyclist’s Code of Conduct:

• Wear a well fitted, standard approved helmet whenever you ride
• Ensure bicycles and related equipment are well maintained
• Carry identification with you when you ride
• Follow the same rules of the road as other motorists
• Know the accepted hand signals and use them
• Be predictable; look ahead and anticipate road hazards; ride far enough from the curb to maintain a straight line
• Stay off the sidewalk unless you are a very young rider
• Ride single file
• Make eye contact with motorists whenever possible

http://www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca/Injury/RoadSafety/HelmetsFS.html

Bike Lanes 

Bike lanes are specially marked areas that are permitted for cyclists use only. Typically 1.5m wide, striped and marked with a large diamond and bike symbol stenciled on the pavement. Bike lanes help make people feel safer about cycling on city streets and help motorists know where cyclists are expected to be traveling.

Additional Resources and Links: 

• Active Alternative Transportation to Support Healthy Living in Grey Bruce   by Grey Bruce Health Unit
• Child and Youth Friendly Land Use and Transport Planning Guidelines for Ontario Guidelines ON 
• Ontario Professional Planners Institute – Call to Action Planning for the Needs of Children and Youth 
• Promoting Healthy Transportation Policy 
• Youth Moving Safely with Active Transportation - 2011 Report