Municipal Sustainability Office

Active transportation growing in Nova Scotia

Active transportation, or human-powered travel, is a growing movement across Canada and many parts of the world. Making municipalities safer for walking, cycling and other forms of active transportation will improve the health and well-being of Nova Scotians and create sustainable, more livable communities. Nova Scotia’s municipalities are in an ideal position to make this investment in the future and reap the many benefits it will provide, but there is work to be done before this can happen.

Barriers and opportunities

A 2009 survey by the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities (UNSM), completed by 34 municipalities across the province, identified several barriers for advancing active transportation at both the municipal and provincial levels. In particular, the lack of an “active transportation lens” by decision-makers was seen as inhibiting development.  This lens has meant that policies specifically targeting active transportation are insufficient and don’t adequately support the development of infrastructure and education.

At the same time, responding municipalities indicated that now is the time to act. They indicated many opportunities exist for the advancement of active transportation and some projects such as expansion of infrastructure, walking/biking weeks and awareness campaigns have been initiated. The municipalities indicated the focus on healthy living will further facilitate interest in active transportation. 

Survey findings

Findings from the 2009 UNSM survey indicate that although there were only a few responding municipalities who had an active transportation plan, most had considered active transportation to some extent through avenues such as bylaws, policy statements or budgeting.

Municipalities with an active transportation plan often also had an active transportation committee. Most of the focus on active transportation development has been on the expansion of sidewalks, trails, and bike lanes, with many municipalities having policy statements or funding allocated to these initiatives.

To advance active transportation within the province, responding municipalities indicated support for a provincial “active transportation lens” to review policies, funding, and education/awareness campaigns. There was also support for UNSM to play a strong advocacy and educational role in this process. 

Advocating for active transportation

UNSM made active transportation a priority in 2008 when it resolved to promote strategies among its membership and with other government agencies. It also advocates for improved roads and other infrastructure to develop and encourage safe walking, cycling and other active transportation opportunities for both Nova Scotians and visitors.

UNSM’s Active Transportation Committee was formed in 2009. It comprises representatives from the following organizations: 

• Cape Breton Regional Municipality
• Conserve Nova Scotia
• Doctors Nova Scotia
• Ecology Action Centre
• Halifax Regional Municipality
• Health Promotion & Protection
• Heart & Stroke Foundation
• Kieran Pathways Society
• Municipality of the County of Colchester
• Municipality of Annapolis County
• Recreation Nova Scotia
• Service Nova Scotia & Municipal Relations
• Town of Bridgewater
• Transportation & Infrastructure Renewal
• Velo Cape Breton
• UNSM

Moving active transportation forward in your municipality

Many Nova Scotia municipalities have made impressive strides in developing active routes as viable transportation options for their residents. As a result of active transportation planning and projects, these municipalities are becoming more sustainable, vibrant communities for people of all ages. 

To help create more opportunities for active transportation in your municipality, here are a few ideas from the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities’ Active Transportation Committee:

1. Show the UNSM active transportation video at a council meeting and introduce a resolution that supports active transportation. (This has been done in the Municipality of the District of Chester and the Municipality of the County of Annapolis. Visit www.pathwaysforpeople.ca/node/322
2. Organize a “brown bag” lunch session for staff to show the UNSM active transportation video and invite an active transportation speaker to discuss opportunities within your municipality for  promoting active transportation
3. Place a link on your website to UNSM’s active transportation video (www.unsm.ca/active-transportation.html and/or www.sustainability-unsm.ca/active-transportation.html
4. Develop a working group comprising interested citizens, municipal physical activity coordinators, planners, recreation staff, non-profit groups, trails groups, enforcement officers, developers, and local businesses to discuss ways to promote active transportation in your municipality. This may include:
   a)    Completing an initial community “walk or bike-ability” assessment
   b)    Securing resources for an active transportation connectivity plan
   c)    Making presentations to various agencies, such as local school boards,regional development authorities and community health boards
   d)    Organizing a public meeting or setting up a booth at local events and in key community locations to generate support for active transportation
   
5. Once preliminary work has been done, share desired outcomes with your council and residents to garner further support
6. Get going with some “low hanging fruit” initiatives, such as installing bike racks and share-the-road signs, printing maps to promote trails in your municipality, and organizing biking or walking events
7. Begin work on active transportation opportunities identified in your Integrated Community Sustainability Plan
8. Be a visible active transportation leader:  encourage staff to walk and cycle for their daily commute

Active transportation resources

There are several online resources to help you move the active transportation agenda forward in your municipality, including the following:

• Ecology Action Centre’s Municipalities for Green Mobility
• Pathways for People
• Active and Safe Routes to School
• Ecology Action Centre’s Green Mobility Strategy for Nova Scotia
• The Centre for Sustainable Transportation’s Child and Youth-friendly Land-Use and Transport Planning Guidelines