Cycling and walking have a wide range of benefits; health, financial and environmental, so by walking or cycling to work, to the local shop, to the beach or to a park, you are making a positive contribution to your own health and the environment.
The Sunshine Coast is a fantastic place to explore by foot or bicycle with an abundance of on and off-road paved bicycle and walking paths as well as an extensive network of mountain bike and hiking trails.
The geography of the Sunshine Coast with its sea, inlets, and mountains, made boats the most effective method of travel well into the 20th century. Motor vehicles took center stage for the next 40 to 50 years and it then became apparent that local citizens and visitors needed better opportunities to engage in active transportation.
The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) supports the well-being of its community by providing a range of programs directly aimed at encouraging the community to get active and healthy, including the development and management of over 17 km of paved bike and walking paths.
In November of 1993, the SCRD undertook a collaborative process to develop a "bicycle and pedestrian pathway plan." The process involved the Ministry of Transportation and Highways, Ministry of Forests, the Suncoast Trails Society, and members of the community.
The plan consisted of several objectives including the development and maintenance of a bicycle pedestrian pathway network that promoted safe and efficient bicycle transportation while achieving a high standard of design and construction with the financial resources available.
"We are responding to public demand for more bike lanes and we are committed to establishing cycling as a viable transportation option here on the Coast," said SCRD board Chair Garry Nohr in a news release. "Support of infrastructure projects that serve to improve transportation networks and promote sustainable travel are of utmost importance in our region."
Taxation has applied to this function for several years by participating electoral areas. From 1997 to 2002 the B.C. Government provided matching funds, and then from 2008 to the present, this function was primarily supported by Gas Tax funds.
A recent study by the BC Recreation & Parks Association, entitled "Physical Activity and Transportation Benefits of Walkable Approaches to Community Design in British Columbia," found that designing neighbourhoods where it's easier to walk and bike can actually influence people to do those activities more often, benefitting their health and enhancing the community.
The SCRD stresses the importance of riding safely and being aware of road rules.
"Cyclists are vulnerable road users where any accident involving a bicycle and a motor vehicle can result in serious injuries," added Sam Adams, SCRD parks planning co-ordinator and avid cyclist. "Motorists should also obey road rules and not park on bike paths as this can cause a cyclist to ride wide and risk collision with a moving vehicle".
For more information on the best places to take your two wheels on the Sunshine Coast, call 604-885-6802, or visit www.scrd.ca/Parks.
-Submitted by the SCRD
