Walkable Communities
Quality of Life
Definition adapted from the Quality of Life Research Unit, University of Toronto: People live quality lives when their lives are both meaningful and enjoyed which contributes to their happiness and well being. This section identifies some of the influences on our quality of life in Niagara.
Walkable Communities
Walkable communities are an important aspect of a healthy and vibrant community. To encourage citizens to rely on their cars less and choose walking more often, the environment in which they live, work, learn and play must support walking as a form of everyday transportation. Well-designed, compact communities where people can walk to school and work, to stores, parks and restaurants significantly reduce the need to drive. There are many economic, health and environmental benefits of building and sustaining a community that supports walking as a primary mode of transportation.
Walkable Communities Survey
In 2007, the Central West walkON Coordinating Committee conducted a community survey to assess what the public thought and felt about walkable communities. Over 3400 adults in the regions of Brant, Haldimand-Norfolk, Hamilton, Halton, Niagara, Waterloo, and Wellington- Dufferin-Guelph participated in a brief telephone survey.
According to respondents living in urban areas in Central West, the top three most important components of a walkable community that could affect the ability to be physically active were
- having sidewalks and pathways connected to each other (73%)
- having roads, sidewalks, and pathways that are in good condition (71%)
- having well lit roads, sidewalks, and pathways at night (62%)
Read more at www.walkON.ca.
International Charter for Walking
Creating healthy, efficient and sustainable communities where people choose to walk.
Read more at www.walk21.com
Bicycle
Great cycling adventures can be enjoyed on the Greater Niagara Circle Route Trails System which is over 140 km of mostly off-road, paved trails. The paved trail system includes the Welland Canals Trail, the Friendship Trail, the Niagara River Recreation Trail and the Waterfront.
Read more at www.regional.niagara.on.ca/government/initiatives/gncr/default.aspx
Niagara Health System
The Niagara Health System (NHS) is Ontario's largest multi-site hospital amalgamation, comprised of six hospital sites and an ambulatory care centre serving 434,000 residents across the 12 municipalities making up the Regional Municipality of Niagara. The NHS forms a sophisticated and innovative network of health services, stretching from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario.
Read more at www.niagarahealth.on.ca
