Active Transportation Summit 2024 Highlights

Active Transportation (AT) is an important component of Destination BC’s strategic goal to support BC’s tourism industry in meeting or exceeding the Province’s Climate Change Action Plan targets. The Active Transportation Summit, hosted by BC Cycling Coalition, took place June 18-19 in New Westminster and Destination BC’s Emilie Cayer-Huard, Manager of Destination Development, had the opportunity to learn about and support the significant work happening in the province and connect with the people behind it.

Notable takeaways from the summit included:

• Rob Fleming, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, announced the province is investing $85M to improve the efficiency of transportation networks in nine communities around the province.
• Cycle 16, a multi-use trail linking Telkwa and Smithers, is one of the projects benefiting from the announcement and will receive the remaining funding required to complete this 12km trail.
• Elder Ruth Mary Adams of Tsawwassen First Nation shared words of wisdom on reconciliation and her vision for the Great Blue Heron Way, an AT corridor linking First Nation communities along the Fraser River and Salish Sea, in partnership with Trails BC.
• Thom Tischik, Executive Director of Travel Penticton and Kristen Dixon, General Manager of Infrastructure at the City of Penticton co-presented on two excellent examples of AT in tourism; the Lake to Lake trail project, a 7-km path to connect Okanagan Lake and Skaha Lake, and the Fuel Free initiative, meant to entice visitors to Penticton to leave their cars parked during their stay and explore the area by foot, pedal or paddle.
• Annie Wise of Sunshine Coast Tourism, Thom Tischik, and Debbie Reid of ACE Burnaby were the invited to a panel moderated by David Bell of Urban Systems Ltd. to discuss the “Bikenomics” and Why Excellent Cycling Infrastructure is Good for Business.
• Annie Wise also spoke on a panel called “Working together to connect Sunshine Coast Communities” highlighting the Connect the Coast initiative, an ambitious vision to build a multi-use path paralleling the entire length of the Sunshine Coast Highway 101 from Langdale to Lund. This project has completed a preliminary feasibility study with support from local advocacy groups, local government and funding from the Federal Active Transportation Fund and is now working towards next steps.