What is Active Transportation?

Active transportation is self-propelled motion or getting around using human power, whether you are walking, cycling, jogging, skateboarding, inline skating or traveling in a non-mechanized wheelchair.

Active transportation is about getting off the couch and getting active and making use of recreational infrastructure like bicycle lanes and multi-use pathways. It is good for the body, mind and soul not to mention the environment and the economy.

Public Support

A survey conducted in 2017 concluded 84 per cent of respondents supported continued municipal funding for active transportation infrastructure, 68 per cent supported more funding for end-use facilities like benches and bike racks, and 78 per cent supported more funding for maintenance of active transportation facilities.

Cycling on the rise

More and more cyclists are making use of the CWATS network and the number of cyclists is now greater than number of non-cyclists, according to a study conducted in the summer of 2018.

Benefits of Active Transportation

Regular exercise and fresh air relieves stress and promotes physical and mental wellbeing.

Regular activity increases your stamina and self-esteem and lowers the risk of high blood pressure, obesity, heart disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes.

Benefits of exercise include:

  • More energy
  • Better sleep
  • Increased confidence and productivity
  • Increased happiness via the release of endorphins
  • Decreased stress
  • Improved posture, balance, flexibility and muscle strength
  • Slowed down effects of aging
  • Enhanced memory and problem solving skills
  • Improved self-image

As more and more people rely on cycling or walking instead of motorized vehicles, there is a benefit to the roads system. These benefits include:

  • Reduced road congestion and maintenance costs
  • Less expensive infrastructure
  • Increased road safety
  • Decreased user costs

Walking and cycling and other forms of self-propelled motion create zero emissions. Environmental benefits of increased active transportation include reducing:

  • Air pollution
  • Traffic congestion
  • Greenhouse gas emissions
  • The impact on global climate change
  • The need to transform green space into parking lots
  • Your ecological footprint

A well-maintained and used active transportation system promotes:

  • Bicycle tourism
  • Bicycle sales and manufacturing
  • Increased property values, especially along greenways, paths and trails

More walking and cycling means a reduction in:

  • Road construction, repair and maintenance costs
  • Costs associated with air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions
  • Health care costs
  • Fuel, repair and maintenance costs
  • Parking subsidies
  • Costs associated with water pollution

An ever-expanding and connected trail system like we are building in Essex County will draw tourists from across the province and the country who are attracted to our spectacular shoreline views, our history and our growing roster of award-winning wineries and distilleries.

As more and more people choose cycling and walking over driving, it will have a positive, community-building effect. Possible benefits include:

  • The risk of collisions drops because there are fewer motorists on the road
  • Increasing social contact between neighbours
  • A reduction in crime because there are more eyes on the street