Active Transportation: Toward a Canadian National Strategy Bjorn Nielsen Chair Go for Green Pro Walk/Pro Bike 2004

Go for Green … … promotes outdoor physical activity that protects, enhances, or restores the environment. … works with organizations, businesses, governments at all levels, and community groups. Active Living Environmental Citizenship

Go for Green programs Active Transportation Commuter Challenge Active & Safe Routes to School Ice Dreams Trails Canada Gardening for Life Winter Green Green Prescription

What is Active Transportation (AT)? Walking, cycling & wheel chairing; In-line skating & skateboarding; Canoeing, kayaking & rowing; Skating, skiing & snow shoeing. The use modes of transportation that require human power, such as:

A few AT highlights … 1992: Coined the phrase “Active Transportation” 1994:Spearheaded successful efforts to influence the first infrastructure program to include walking and cycling projects 1997:Coordinators of the Active and Safe Routes to School program 1998: Conducted the National Survey on Active Transportation

A few AT highlights … (cont.) :Selected to coordinate national Commuter Challenge :Presented to the Standing Committee on Finance regarding AT 2003:Hosted National Roundtable on Active Transportation 2004:Produced “A Business Case for Active Transportation” 2004:Updating the National Survey on Active Transportation

Business Case for Active Transportation Created as a follow-up to the National Roundtable on Active Transportation hosted by Go for Green Outlines the economic benefits of walking and cycling

Blueprint for Active Transportation Offers recommendations on advancing the active transportation agenda through:  Policy development  National coordination  Infrastructure and funding  Communications and social marketing  Programs and research  Community planning

Policy Development Continue to advocate for a National Active Transportation Policy. Work with each P-T government to influence their Physical Activity Strategies. Ensure that Active Transportation is included in the policy framework of the Pan-Canadian Healthy Living Strategy. Get Active Transportation on the New Deal for Cities agenda.

National Coordination Partner with key stakeholders to host an Active Transportation national clearinghouse. Create a task force of federal officials and NGO representatives to develop a model for a Centre of Excellence.

Infrastructure and Funding Ensure that the new Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF) includes active transportation in the sets of guidelines. Encourage each province and territory to develop their own capital funding program for cost-sharing on cycling and pathway systems (in addition to the Infrastructure Canada programs) Portion of the Gas Tax earmarked for AT projects.

Communications and Social Marketing Ensure that national and P/T physical activity communication campaigns that are in place or under development promote AT. Increase the promotion of AT in campaigns such as Environment Week, Clean Air Day, Car Free Day, the One-Tonne Challenge etc. Offer to present on AT at future conferences by groups like the Canadian Institute of Planners and the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers.

Programs and Research Update the 1998 National Survey on Active Transportation. Address gaps in research on Active Transportation identified in the Business Case.

Community Planning Share best practices. Participate in educational opportunities.

What YOU can do… Promote AT for short trips (e.g. to the corner store.) Meet with political leaders. Encourage participation in events such as the Commuter Challenge, International Walk to School Week, Clean Air Day etc. Take personal action.