Active transportation is a health promotion priority for Doctors Nova Scotia. Health issues like being overweight or obese have overtaken smoking as the number one public concern in Nova Scotia. Doctors know that physical active can play an important role in keeping Nova Scotians active and healthy.
Active transportation or human-powered forms of travel -- like walking, bicycling, using a wheelchair, snowshoeing or skiing -- are essential to build a more physically active and healthy society.
Physical inactivity and unhealthy eating are the main contributors to the increase of weight problems. Adding more physical activity to our daily lives is one way to get on track with good health, and active transportation is one way to do so. Whether it’s walking to school, biking to work, or exploring one of our province’s trails, it’s time for Nova Scotians to get out and get moving.
Nova Scotia is doing more than ever before to promote active transportation. For the first time ever, in 2011 the province declared June as Active Transportation Month. This is a great opportunity to explore ways to travel around your community without using a car.
To help make it safer than ever to use the streets for non-motorized transportation, the province has amended the Motor Vehicles Act to ensure the safe distance of one metre when a vehicle passes a cyclist. The amendments also provide for additional fines if the one-metre rule isn’t followed.
To make active transportation even safer, trails should be reserved for non-motorized activities whenever possible and bike lanes should be available for cyclists.
Benefits
Many benefits flow from active transportation:
- Health – Active transportation provides an opportunity to be physically active on a regular basis.
- Social – Active transportation is accessible to Canadians and increases social interactions.
- Transportation – Active transportation reduces road congestion.
- Environmental – Active transportation is environmentally friendly and can contribute to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
- Economic – Active transportation saves money on gas and parking and can support local business by increasing pedestrian traffic and walk-in customers.
Before you get behind the wheel, think twice about whether you could walk or ride your bike instead. Trade your dress shoes for running shoes, strap on a backpack and get moving.