'We're on the right path' for active transportation, says P.E.I. advocacy group

As a provincial fund for active transportation winds down, community groups, municipal leaders and provincial officials have come together to discuss what the future might look like.

Established in 2020, the province's active transportation fund offered $25 million over five years to build infrastructure in the province, such as building walking and bike paths, widening paved shoulders, and tackling other projects to encourage walking and cycling.

Valerie Vuillemot, executive director of Recreation P.E.I., a non-profit association dedicated to promoting all facets of recreation and physical activity, said the province has made a successful change in direction in the last few years.

"I think we're on the right path," said Vuillemot. "I don't think we had a path before. And now there's a path."

Vuillemot has helped to organize two summits this week, one in Summerside and one in Stratford, in an effort to move the province further down that path.

A change in attitude

In August, the provincial government noted the active transportation fund had assisted more than 100 new active transportation initiatives undertaken by community groups and municipalities.

Projects have included a trail access map and trail restoration in Mount Stewart; a plan to develop safe walkways from local businesses to the beach in Souris West; improvements to bicycle trails in Brudenell, Gairloch and Brookvale; bicycle racks at schools; and more than 100 kilometres of paved shoulders on Island roads and highways.

Equally as important as the projects funded, said Vuillemot, is a change in attitude toward active transportation.

"People weren't really talking about it or considering it before," she said. "Now when people are making plans or they're doing road work, it's more of a consideration up front rather than as an afterthought."

While infrastructure is important, she said, the single most important thing for safety is for people to respect one another.

She said that is not just about drivers respecting pedestrians and cyclists, but for pedestrians and cyclists to respect the needs of drivers as well.