Becoming an active community requires more than just people, it requires the right land, the right infrastructure, the right promotion and so much more. However, Westville is committed to increasing the amount of spaces in which people can live, work and play! In the next few months we will be highlighting stories from residents who use active transportation and who are active in the community. It is for this reason we thought it would be a good idea to get some of the frequently asked questions about active transportation out of the way.
Here we go!
- What is Active Transport?
Answer: Active Transport is any form of human-powered transportation for the purposes of getting yourself or others to a particular destination. This can include getting to work, school to the store and more.
- How does AT benefit me?
Answer: AT is a great way to engage with your community, get some fresh air and improve your health. It not only has physical benefits but social and mental benefits. More specifically, AT encourages daily physical activity which death from obesity and inactivity. AT also has economic benefits to the user as it can decrease expenses related to the operating costs of a vehicle.
- How does AT benefit my community?
Answer: AT can help a community grow; property values grow when a community has proper AT infrastructure because it means that community is active, liveable and walkable. Proper AT infrastructure helps maintain connectivity within and beyond the community as people commute in an out and to various local amenities.
- I own a local business, is AT infrastructure going to harm my business?
Answer: No, in fact AT infrastructure will attract new people to your business. AT infrastructure helps connect people from other communities. When new AT infrastructure is built the town and its amenities are promoted so that people know what is available for them when passing through various towns.
- What is Westville’s Active Transportation Plan?
Answer: The Town of Westville seeks to improve AT by partnering with local organizations such as Active Pictou County and the Active Transportation Committee. Additionally, the Town of Westville recreation coordinator will be working with is working towards developing a network of trails, such as the Trans Canada Trail, for AT use.
- What are the goals of Westville’s Active Transport Plan?
Answer: The goals of Westville’s AT plan are to create a supportive community environment that encourages physical activity and sustainable transport. We wish to provide residents with safe, affordable options that connect them with where they need to be. Additionally, it is our goal to introduce Westville as a hub of active transport in an effort foster residential appeal and expand our community.
Comment below if you have any more questions about AT or how you can get active in your community!
With love,
Westville Insider Team
Westville Insider 