How can we encourage an active living community?
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An active living community supports physical activity for people of all ages and abilities. This support is shown in the community's policies, facilities and programs.
Here are some examples of what you will find in an active living community:
- bike racks at shops, schools and workplaces
- students working on science projects outside
- parks with maintained and accessible trails
- curb ramps for wheelchairs and buggies
- walking and cycling paths
- children celebrating their culture through dance.
How can we become an active living community?
Urban planning
A community's design can promote physical activity. Here are some things city planners and others can do:
- find partners (Saskatoon in motion is an example of a project that involves many partners)
- create a vision
- develop a plan.
For more urban planning information, visit Active Living by Design (US resource).
Employers can:
- encourage flexible hours
- discourage overtime
- promote breaks
- provide active spaces (e.g., a fitness facility with showers and lockers, picnic tables, a basketball hoop and walking paths)
- promote and support workplace physical activity.
Governments can create policies and provide funding to:
- encourage active transportation to, from and at work (see Resources below)
- link home, work, recreation and retail areas (e.g., using a network of walking and bike paths, bus, train and subway routes and common roadways)
- improve air and water quality to promote outdoor activities
- preserve green spaces
- improve unsafe areas
- support physical activity and physical education in schools.
Cities and towns can:
- maintain sidewalks and make sure they don't come to a dead end
- use zoning by-laws to preserve open spaces
- convert unused land into active space (e.g., converting vacant buildings, gravel pits and landfill sites into small parks, community gardens, swimming pools and skating arenas)
- plan safe outdoor spaces with clear signs and cross-walks to keep pedestrians safe, good lighting, better sight lines and a community watch service
- maintain accessible paths and trails. (e.g., walking or wheeling paths around seniors' lodges, bike or in-line skating paths)
- offer subsidized active living programs in recreation and community centres].
Schools can:
- improve playgrounds
- always include recess in the school day
- promote walking or cycling to school
- create safe, open spaces around schools, colleges or universities to promote student activity all year.
You can:
- commute actively to and from work and stay active at work. For example, you can:
- use the stairs instead of the elevator
- deliver small parcels by walking or cycling
- schedule walking meetings, instead of meeting at your desk
- get to know your neighbours, so that you feel safe being physically active outdoors.
- create a community garden, clean up your local playground, pick up garbage in your neighbourhood.
- talk with your city or town councillor about creating an active living community.
Resources
- A Municipal Perspective on Opportunities for Physical Activity: Trends from 2000–2004 (Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute).
- Walk and Roll: A Guide to Active Transportation to, from and at the Workplace (Go for Green).
