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.

To help address barriers that prevent individuals from using active transportation infrastructure, refer to the BC Alliance for Healthy Living's (BCAHL) Communities Going Active Toolkit. 

Learn more about BCAHL's initiative on our Healthy Living Matters website.

Report - Physical Activity and Transportation Benefits of Walkable Approaches to Community Design

A study from the 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.

• Download the full report here
• Read BCRPA's news release announcement here

This report was released at the 'Shifting Gears' lecture on June 8, 2009: Walking Around the World: Innovation and inspiration for Designing, Engineering and Planning our Cities.

Built Environment and Active Transportation Initiative (BEAT)

The BCRPA led 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 past infrastructure and planning grants, summits and for more information on building a more active environment in communities

Additional Resources

• Check out walkability and bikeability expert Michael Haynes' active transportation blog for research, stats and ideas from across Canada.
• HASTE (Hub for Action of School Transportation Emissions) has developed resources on planning walking school buses and bicycle trains.
• Cycling Infrastructure Partnership Program (CIPP) grants are available where the Government of BC will partner with local governments in the construction of new transportation cycling infrastructure.