Calgary commuters going green, says study
Calgary residentsmay still love their cars, but more are walking, cycling or taking transit downtown than are driving, according to anew study by the city.
The report shows 55 per cent of morning commuters arrive on foot, bike or transit. That's up from less than 40 per cent a decade ago, said John Hubble, the city's transportation manager.
"The community has put a lot of investment into public transportation and I think these numbers validate that investment and they show that we are on the right track," he said.
| Walking | 7.9 per centor 9,559 people. Up 52 per centfrom 1996 |
| Cycling | 1.9 per cent or 2,299 people. Up 58 per centfrom 1996 |
| Transit | 45.1 per cent or 54,571 people. Up 39 per cent from 1996 |
| Auto | 44.8 per cent or 54,208 people. Down 26 per cent from 1996 |
Blanka Bracic rolled into work in downtown Calgary Tuesdayon her bike.
"Most days I take the train, but when the weather's nice — not too rainy, not too windy — I will bike," she said.
"It's a comfortable commute for me. It's about 10 to 11 kilometres."
Colleen McCracken, a spokeswoman with local environmental group Sustainable Calgary, saidpeople are ditching their cars because they are too expensive to run, parking is expensive and traffic is terrible.
"I am not sure if the city can take credit for this in their policies, but I think people are changing and it's up to the city to catch up to that change."
McCracken said more money needs to be spent expanding the C-Train commuter rail system andin making the city more friendly for pedestrians and cyclists.