Active Transportation
The BC Recreation & Parks Association (BCRPA) recognizes
the importance of the built environment and active transportation
in helping communities be more active. Active Transportation
includes promoting walkability in your community and enhancing
the design of your community so there are accessible greenways,
bikeways and blueways to allow citizens to move easily, actively
and car-free in your community.
New Report - Physical Activity and Transportation Benefits of Walkable Approaches to Community Design
A new study from BCRPA calls for municipal governments to
make walking and cycling the top priority in their transportation
plans, rather than cars. The study, entitled "Physical
Activity and Transportation Benefits of Walkable Approaches
to Community Design in British Columbia", found that
designing neighbourhoods where it's easier to walk and bike
can actually influence people to do those activities more
often, benefitting their health and enhancing the community.
Focusing on Metro Vancouver, the study found that adults are 2.5 times more likely to walk when they live in well-connected neighbourhoods with features that are pedestrian-friendly.
It also found that adults who live in walkable neighbourhoods
drive 58% less on average than those who don't.
The study also calls for communities to increase the level of public transit service. It notes that people in areas well-served by transit generally do more walking. The study is the first of its kind in BC.
This report was released at the ' Shifting Gears' lecture
on June 8: Walking Around the World: Innovation and inspiration
for Designing, Engineering and Planning our Cities. More
Built Environment and Active Transportation Initiative (BEAT)
BCRPA leads the Built Environment and Active Transportation
(BEAT) Initiative - an initiative of the BC
Healthy Living Alliance's Physical Activity Strategy.
Check out the BEAT
website for information on infrastructure and planning
grants, summits and more information on building a more active
environment in communities
Additional Resources
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Communities Overview
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