PARC’s Physical Activity Symposium 2011 Ontario Communites walkON Train-the-Trainers Workshop March 23, 2011.

PARC’s Physical Activity Symposium 2011

Ontario Communites walkONTrain-the-Trainers Workshop

March 23, 2011

Purpose/Agenda

• Raise awareness at the local level– Give information sessions– Implement iCANwalk– Promote the International Charter for

Walking• Engage citizens

– Form a community action group– Utilize the Walkability Checklist

• Take action– Create an action plan– Commitment to the International Charter

• Be part of a “community of practice”

Ontario Communities walkONPartnerships

Ontario Communities walkON

walkON: A program that engages communities in the creation of environments that support walking

1. Mobilize communities to focus on improving the built environment

2. Improve the built environment to support walking

3. Increase the proportion of residents who choose walking as a way to be active

Ontario Communities walkONby region:

• Perth County Health Unit• Simcoe-Muskoka District Health

Unit• Northwatch (northern Ontario)• Renfrew-PAN• Heart & Stroke Foundation

(Ottawa) & Eastern Ontario Health Unit

• Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge Health Unit

• Hastings Prince Edward County Health Unit

•Thunder Bay District Health Unit•Township of Uxbridge•Township of Brock•Play Grey-Bruce

<Insert Catchy Title Here>ie: Steps to Strides

<insert date>

Building sustainable, walkable communities

Ontario Communities walkON

A Collaboration of:

With the support of:

With funding from:

Today We Will…

Talk about the importance of walkable communities, identify the important elements of a walkable community, and discuss what we can do to create a more walkable community.

We Have a Serious Problem in Canada….

• New CSEP national physical activity guidelines (Feb 2011) state children and youth require 60 minutes daily of moderate to vigorous physical activity; adults – 150 minutes per week.

• Currently, only 7% of children and youth and 15 % of adults meet these guidelines.

• Between 1981 and 1996 the number of obese children in Canada tripled

Obesity Trends Among Canadian AdultsCCHS - 1985

Obesity Trends Among Canadian AdultsCCHS - 1990

Obesity Trends Among Canadian AdultsCCHS - 1994

Obesity Trends Among Canadian AdultsCCHS - 1998

Obesity Trends Among Canadian AdultsCCHS - 2003

Why this “Epidemic?”“In the 21st century, our environments

increasingly are responsible for tipping us into overweight and obesity.

We are now living in “obesogenic” environments, communities, workplaces, schools and homes that actually promote or encourage obesity”

Dr. Sheela Basrur, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, 2004

When You Were a Child….

Our Children Today….

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50USA

Canad

a

Engla

nd a

nd W

ales

Franc

e

Italy

Switzer

land

Germ

any

Austri

aSwed

enDen

mar

kNet

herla

nds

Cycling

Walking

Modal Shares of Walking and Cycling in North America and Europe, 1995

Building Walkable Communities will Benefit……

• Our physical health– More physical activity promotes healthy weights

• reduced incidence of coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer

– Improved local air quality = reduced incidence of asthma and lung disease

Why Should We Create Walkable Communities?

Building walkable communities will benefit:• Our physical health • Vulnerable populations• Persons of low income• Road traffic and congestion• Pedestrian safety• Society • The economy• Personal finances • The environment • Our mental health & happiness

Building Walkable Communities will Benefit……

• Vulnerable populations– Children & youth– The elderly– Persons with disabilities

Building Walkable Communities will Benefit……

• Persons of low income– Many do not have access to

cars– Greater reliance on transit

and active travel– Limited choices as

consumers• May impact ability to

access healthy food

Building Walkable Communities will Benefit……

• Road traffic and congestion– Shifting short trips from cars

to walking & biking is more effective in reducing congestion than building more roads or widening roads

Building More Walkable Communities will Benefit…….

• Pedestrian Safety/Injury Prevention– The walking environment is safer

• Less accidents involving motor vehicles• Less slips and falls

– With more people walking • there are more eyes on the streets • drivers become accustomed to seeing pedestrians

Building Walkable Communities will Benefit……

• Our society– Walkable communities

promote social interaction, social inclusion, community belonging & pride

– More people walking encourages even more people to walk

– Streets full of people = more eyes on the street and less crime

Building Walkable Communities will Benefit……

• Our Economy– Reduced government health

care costs and employer health care costs

– Brings life to business districts– “Cars don’t shop - people do!”– Increased tourism– Savings on road maintenance

& infrastructure– Decreased congestion costs

Building Walkable Communities will Benefit……

• Our Personal Finances– Costs of owning/operating

car = $8,900– Walking is free!– Costs of driving will escalate

as the supply of gasoline dwindles

– Considerable savings given many short trips using auto = 20 minute walk

Building Walkable Communities will Benefit……

• Our environment – Replacing short distance

car trips with active transportation improves local air quality

– This modal shift helps us significantly to meet our targets for greenhouse gas emissions, impacting climate change

Building Walkable Communities will Benefit……

• Our mental health & happiness– Walkable communities

promote social inclusion– Social inclusion = key

determinant of mental health– The joy of walking =

happiness – Long commutes = stress,

less time for families, friends, and personal recreation, lower life satisfaction

What is a Walkable Community?

Density

Access to Amenities

Access to Amenities

How Far Can You Walk?

15 mins = 1 km30 mins = 2 km45 mins = 3 kmI hour = 4 km

Transit• Higher density =

greater capacity to provide transit

• More transit = less cars on the road

• More transit = increased walking and biking to access transit

Connectivity

Connectivity

Aesthetics

Aesthetics

Safety

Safety

Safety

Photo courtesy Tim Hughes, NZ

The Transportation Hierarchy

Is This a Walkable Community?

What Can Citizens do to Improve Community Walkability?

Learn More!

Learn More!•www.canadawalks.ca•www.icanwalk.ca•www.8-80cities.org

•Watch your local paper for related articles•Learn about your community’s official plan•Attend public meetings

What Can Citizens do to Improve Community Walkability?

Form a pedestrian advocacy group

Ontario Communites walkON: Ideas for Action

From thisTo this

And this

Brantford, ON

What Can Citizens do to Improve Community Walkability?

Encourage all to attend a community information session like this.

What Can Citizens do to Improve Community Walkability?

Complete walkability audits

iCANwalk.ca

What Can Citizens do to Improve Community Walkability?

Sign the International Charter for Walking and demand local leaders do the same!

What Can Citizens do to Improve Community Walkability?

• Persuade decision makers to implement a Complete Streets policy

“Bicycling and Walking facilities will be incorporated into all transportation projects (new construction and reconstruction) in all urbanized areas unless exceptional circumstances exist.“ (US Department of Transportation recommended policy for complete streets)

• www.completestreets.org

What Can Citizens do to Improve Community Walkability?

Demand that their communities promote walking with programs and special events on a regular basis

StratfordKensington Market, Toronto

Hamilton Hamilton

What Can Citizens do to Improve Community Walkability?

Demand that their communities bring in experts to hold a Walkability Workshop for Decision Makers

What Can Citizens do to Improve Community Walkability?

Demand their communities craft and implement a comprehensive walking strategy

<Insert Catchy Title Here>ie: Steps to Strides

<insert contact information>

Building sustainable, walkable communities

Acknowledgements

Six partnerships of the Ontario Heart Health Program:• Niagara Region• Haldimand-Norfolk• Brant County• Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph• Halton Region• The Region of Waterloo

Thank you!