PARC’s Physical Activity Symposium 2011

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

2. 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”

3. Ontario Communities walkONPartnerships

4. Ontario Communities walkON walkON: A program that engages communities in the creation of environments that support walking • Mobilize communities to focus on improving the built environment • Improve the built environment to support walking • Increase the proportion of residents who choose walking as a way to be active

5. 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

6. <Insert Catchy Title Here>ie: Steps to Strides <insert date> Building sustainable, walkable communities

7. Ontario Communities walkON A Collaboration of: With the support of: With funding from:

8. 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.

9. 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

10. Obesity Trends Among Canadian Adults CCHS - 1985

11. Obesity Trends Among Canadian Adults CCHS - 1990

12. Obesity Trends Among Canadian Adults CCHS - 1994

13. Obesity Trends Among Canadian Adults CCHS - 1998

14. Obesity Trends Among Canadian Adults CCHS - 2003

15. 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

16. When You Were a Child….

17. Our Children Today….

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

20. 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

21. 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

22. Building Walkable Communities will Benefit…… Vulnerable populations Children & youth The elderly Persons with disabilities

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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

31. What is a Walkable Community?

32. Density

33. Access to Amenities Access to Amenities

34. How Far Can You Walk? 15 mins = 1 km 30 mins = 2 km 45 mins = 3 km I hour = 4 km

35. Transit • Higher density = greater capacity to provide transit • More transit = less cars on the road • More transit = increased walking and biking to access transit

36. Connectivity

37. Connectivity

38. Aesthetics

39. Aesthetics

40. Safety

41. Safety

42. Safety Photo courtesy Tim Hughes, NZ

43. The Transportation Hierarchy

44. Is This a Walkable Community?

45. What Can Citizens do to Improve Community Walkability? Learn More!

46. 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

47. What Can Citizens do to Improve Community Walkability? Form a pedestrian advocacy group

48. Ontario CommuniteswalkON: Ideas for Action To this From this And this Brantford, ON

49. What Can Citizens do to Improve Community Walkability? Encourage all to attend a community information session like this.

50. What Can Citizens do to Improve Community Walkability? Complete walkability audits