Kimberly Hutton, of WSP Grop, outlined a draft of Whitewater Region’s Active Transport Plan, a plan to provide and fund road infrastructure and incentives to set up for active transportation, such as bicycles.
“There is a lot of good evidence of it helps with obesity and heart disease and mental health.” she said.
She said there was “a lot of opportunities for an active community.”
Included was a survey of 219 residents, and found that 90% of the residents used active transportation for fitness and recreation.
The outline suggested paved shoulders, bike lanes, and shared walking/cycling lanes be used, and recommended more sidewalks in Cobden, Beachburg, Forester’s Falls, Westmeath, and Haley’s Station.
“Obviously there was an absolute tone of work put into that presentation. It really take a lot of vision to put that kind of presentation together.” Councillor Olmstead said. “Whitewater is a really vast region. I was in Finland and Sweden for two weeks, and I don’t know if you’ve seen over there, but there are barely any vehicles anymore. All of their active transportation.”
Councillor Nicholson said the plan was ‘incredibly detailed.”
“The big-ticket items I’m seeing from the community are addressed right away.”
The report was received for information purposes.
