Active Transportation

There are many initiatives to improve overall health and sustainability across Canada and the United States.  We are encouraged to eat locally grown food in season, reduce our waste and use of chemicals and leave the car at home whenever possible.

Active transportation, any kind of human-powered locomotion such as walking, cycling, using a wheelchair or skateboarding, is getting more attention as communities embrace alternatives to cars and buses.

Active modes of transportation not only provide regular exercise but also reduce traffic, provide opportunities for social interactions, save money and help reduce gas emissions.  Seniors can especially benefit from active transportation and may want to consider proximity to pedestrian and cycling paths when choosing a retirement community.

The Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation conducted a study comparing six types of neighborhoods in five Canadian cities and their sustainable features.  One of the key elements in making a community more sustainable was a “place where you can make your daily trips on foot, bike or bus”.

Proximity to shopping, libraries, parks and community centers give residents more choices in how to travel to daily destinations.  The Heart and Stoke Foundation recommends 30 minutes of exercise daily to reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and obesity and those who live within walking distance of stores, services and restaurants are much more likely to be active. Walkability also allows seniors to set their own schedule and enjoy freedom of movement when they no longer drive.

Walk Score (www.walkscore.com) offers a rating out of 100 indicating how close a neighborhood is to stores and services for daily errands.  The site also rates transit and bike friendly cities and neighbourhoods. Vancouver’s Downtown, West End and Strathcona neighborhoods top their list for walkability.

For the full report on sustainable neighbourhoods visit  www.cmhc-schi.gc.ca/en/co/buho/sune/ and more information about endorsing active transportation can be found though the Public Health Agency of Canada  www.phac-aspc.gc.ca .