What would it take for more Canadians to leave their cars at home? As cities grapple with congestion, road safety and transportation costs, experts from Canada and Europe are gathering in Victoria to share ideas on making it easier to get around without driving. The fourth annual Active Transportation Summit runs Oct. 28 to 30 at the Victoria Conference Centre, bringing together planners, advocates and government representatives to explore how communities can improve options for people walking, cycling, rolling and taking transit. For Desmond Jones, co-chair of Capital Bike Westshore committee, the gathering is a chance to learn from countries with different approaches to transportation, while showing international delegates what Greater Victoria is already doing. “They’re going to talk about the benefits of active transportation, and you will have opportunities to learn from the Dutch about what works there, how we can maybe improve things here,” Jones said. The summit features opening keynote speaker Matteo Jarre, a mobility planning and governance expert with Dutch consulting firm Decisio, bringing an international perspective to the discussion. What could Canada learn? For Canadian communities, the challenge is not simply building more bike lanes. It is creating connected, safe routes that make walking and cycling practical choices for everyday trips. Jones said delegates will have opportunities to see local infrastructure firsthand, including bike routes in Greater Victoria and a planned visit to the overpass connecting both sides of the Galloping Goose Regional Trail in Colwood. He believes making cycling a more realistic option can benefit people who drive, too. “If there’s a way for somebody to get around on a bike, that benefits so many other areas,” Jones said. “It also benefits people who drive, because if I’m cycling, I’m not in their way, and I’m not using a parking spot that’s available for somebody else.” The summit will also examine transportation policy, infrastructure costs and ways to make mobility more accessible, with delegates taking ideas back to their own communities. Beyond the bike lane debate Active transportation includes more than cycling. Walking, rolling and connections to public transit are also part of the conversation, as communities consider how to give people more choices for getting to work, school and other destinations. Jones sees Greater Victoria as an opportunity to show what investment in these options can achieve, while learning from approaches elsewhere. “Victoria, really, to me, is a leader in this development of safe, sustainable and healthy transportation methods,” he said. The summit also features closing keynote speaker Adam Olsen, director of intergovernmental relations with Tsartlip First Nation and a former MLA for Saanich North and the Islands. The question facing communities across Canada is how to turn these discussions into practical improvements that work for local residents. Victoria’s summit offers a chance to compare experiences, challenge assumptions and consider what might be possible.
