Getting around

Goal

Safe, active, and accessible ways of getting around.

Target

Make over 50% of trips by foot, bicycle, and public transit.

Overview

Active transportation allows people to make exercise part of their daily routine by walking, wheeling, cycling, rolling, and riding public transit.

People are unlikely to walk or cycle if it feels unpleasant or unsafe, or if distances make it impractical compared to driving. By making these modes safe, convenient, accessible, comfortable and delightful, we can positively affect the health and well being of citizens of all ages.

Progress we've made so far

Healthy City Dashboard

Check out the latest way to find information about health and well-being in Vancouver. View the status, trends, and graphs of health indicators and export the data to use elsewhere.

Explore the Healthy City Dashboard

Low income

Median income

Wages

Low income chart

Median income chart

Wages chart

How we measure success

We use a number of data sources to monitor trends in the health of the city. We monitor progress toward Getting Around using data from transportation surveys and traffic incident statistics.
Sustainable transportation mode share
- In 2017, 48% of daily trips were made by walking, cycling or transit
  Source: City of Vancouver, Transportation Panel Survey
Number of active transportation trips
- 619 thousand walking and cycling trips are made on a typical weekday in 2017
  Source: City of Vancouver, Transportation Panel Survey
Traffic-related fatalities
- There were 10 fatal motor vehicle incidents in 2017
  Source: City of Vancouver, Transportation Panel Survey
2015-2018 Priority actions

Steps toward achieving this goal in the first four years of the Healthy City Strategy.
1. Actions are being undertaken through the Transportation 2040 Plan.
2. Work with partners to implement the City’s Active Transportation Promotion and Enabling Plan, with annual report cards on progress.
  - Results: We will promote walking and cycling as normal, culturally appropriate components of everyday life.
Success stories
International conference on active transportation

In September 2016, as part of our Active Transportation Promotion and Enabling Plan, Vancouver hosted the international Pro Walk/Pro Bike/Pro Place conference.

The conference:
- Showcased Vancouver’s active transportation projects and policies to 1,000 active transportation and placemaking professionals from across North America and around the world
- Launched Vancouver’s first annual walking and cycling report card which highlights Vancouver’s improving active transportation mode share, recent infrastructure improvements, and the city’s changing attitudes toward walking and cycling
In 2015:
- 27% of trips in the city were made by walking
- 16% by transit
- 7% by bicycle