File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By James Peters

Two and Out

PETERS: More than a passing fad, the move to active transportation is exploding in B.C.

Aug 12, 2022 | 10:53 AM

AFTER SPENDING THE PAST FEW WEEKS travelling on Vancouver Island, the prevalence of so-called alternative modes of transportation really stood out to me.

One of the most striking examples is the Galloping Goose Trail.

The multi-use trail runs 55 kilometres from Victoria west through Sooke, then meanders north along the Sooke River.

Residents of southern Vancouver Island who walk, jog or cycle love to take advantage of the path and it makes commuting into Victoria more plausible for those without motor vehicles.

It’s a spectacular pathway — paved in some areas, gravel in others but far from back-country — that benefits from a former railway right-of-way.

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Active transportation has gone from a buzzword meaningful to only a few to something that has become increasingly attractive to a really broad swath of the public.

The cost of absolutely everything has gone through the roof — and fuel is the most extreme example.

People are looking at their budgets and wondering what they can cut. And they’re not just looking at minor changes, like switching from Starbucks to McDonald’s; they’re looking at what changes will make a big difference.

Those changes might include parking their vehicles at home or listing them for sale.

Not only are people riding bicycles and jogging instead, e-bikes and electric scooters have risen in prominence as well.

Municipalities who have predicted this shift with their infrastructure plans are ready but will need to do more.

The example of Galloping Goose Trail should turn on a lightbulb.

Are there pathways that were previously dedicated to motor vehicle transportation that we can decommission and dedicate to active transportation?

This shift to spending less on transportation and transforming our thinking about how we get around is more than a passing fad.

As a result, it should be a big part of our upcoming municipal election campaign.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.