Canadian Health Network

Send this to a friend Print-friendly version Physical activity for health: the evidence Walk and roll: a guide to active transportation to, from and at the workplace Active and safe travel to school Past Articles Subscribe to our Healthlink newsletter

Cars are central to many Canadians' lifestyles. But the next time you head for your car to run an errand a few blocks away, pause for a moment to consider an alternative kind of transportation - human-powered, active transportation.

What better time than Summer to get active outdoors?

What is active transportation?

Active transportation is any form of transportation where the energy to get to work, to school, to shop or to visit friends is human-powered.

Active transportation includes the following methods of travel:

• walking
• bicycle
• wheelchair
• in-line skates
• ice skates.

It can also be a combination of transportation modes, such as walking and taking public transit.

Good for people and the environment

If Canadians chose to walk or cycle more often instead of driving, it would help to reduce a number of health, environmental and safety problems.

Health benefits

Six out of 10 Canadians do not get enough exercise. An hour of walking a day is very good for your health. It is beneficial even in 10-minute blocks, such as walking to the bus stop. Furthermore, moderate daily physical exercise can prevent or substantially reduce the risks of heart disease, diabetes, some cancers, osteoporosis, obesity and high blood pressure.

Environmental benefits

Cars and other vehicles are largely responsible for polluting emissions that cause poor air quality. Making greater use of active transportation for commuting can reduce some of the harmful effects on the environment such as air pollution, noise pollution, and the greenhouse gases which cause climate change.

Safety benefits

Active transportation can even reduce crime. Having more pedestrians and cyclists on neighbourhood streets can help to deter crime, and make the whole community feel safer. And by easing traffic congestion, active transportation also helps reduce the incidence of motor vehicle accidents.

So let's get started—switching to human power is easier than you think!

• Think twice before using your car every time you need to get somewhere. Couldn't you walk or cycle to your friends' place?
• Dust off your bicycle and use it to commute to work if time permits.
• Switch your street shoes for running shoes, take a small backpack and walk to work, or at least walk partway there.
• Instead of driving the kids to the park, why not get out the bicycles and make it a family outing?
• Consider the transportation options in your neighbourhood. Can you walk to the places you need to visit often? Could you do your day-to-day errands on foot? Can the whole family walk to your kids' school?

Schools, workplaces and communities also have a role

Schools can:

• encourage students to adopt a method of active transportation
• encourage students to get their parents to become more active; for example, by walking to and from school with them
• tell children which routes are the safest for getting to school and teach them the safety rules they need to obey.

Communities can:

• develop a system of walkways and cycling paths that make commuting easier and recreational transportation more enjoyable
• encourage drivers to share the road with cyclists
• plan secure bicycle parking spaces.

Workplaces can:

• provide employees with a place where they can park their bicycles and a change-room with a shower where they can change clothes if necessary
• be more flexible concerning the dress code
• encourage employees to use the stairs instead of the elevators
• encourage employees to drive to work less by reimbursing public transit passes and increasing parking fees at the workplace
• organize safety courses for employees who have opted for active transportation.