Active Transportation

Getting around - the healthy way

Active transportation is any mode of getting from one place to another by using your own power, including

• walking, jogging and running;
• biking;
• in-line skating/rollerblading
• skateboarding; and
• snowshoeing and cross-country skiing

Not only does active transportation help maintain a healthy lifestyle and increase physical fitness, but it also reduces road congestion, vehicle-related greenhouse gas emissions and costs related to gas and parking.

Making active transportation part of your family’s life

Before you leave home to take the kids to daycare or school - or for you to go to work - ask yourself if the car is really necessary. Could you walk or bike instead? If the weather’s nice and you’re going somewhere nearby, chances are you could easily choose a form of active transportation.

Active transportation in your community

Active transportation is even easier to use if it's supported and encouraged by local programs and infrastructure. Find out if your community has

• dedicated bike lanes and cycling paths;
• specific measures to ensure pedestrians, cyclists and other active transportation users can safely integrate with vehicle traffic;
• secure storage for bicycles;
• public transit access that is easily integrated with pedestrian and cycling facilities; and
• driver education programs about sharing the road with others.