This fall, make the shift, walk or bike instead of drive!

Halton Region is joining Green Communities Canada in challenging residents to make a pledge at www.icanwalk.ca to walk, bike, or use any other form of active transportation instead of travelling by car for short trips, for one month, for a chance to win a prize.

“We are pleased to partner with Green Communities Canada in launching this challenge,” said Gary Carr, Halton Regional Chair. “It takes only about 10 to 15 minutes to walk a kilometre. When you use active transportation instead of driving, you help to protect and enhance our natural environment, create and improve safe, healthy, liveable and inclusive communities and boost your physical activity levels.”

iCANwalk started as an initiative of the Central West Heart Health Network and Halton Region was a key player in its development. In fact, the Halton Region Health Department partnered with several local groups in Aldershot to promote the iCANwalk campaign between August and November 2009 to raise awareness about walkability.

Now, thanks to a Community Go Green grant from the Government of Ontario, the initiative has gone province-wide, as part of the Canada Walks department of Green Communities Canada. The iCANwalk Pledge, accessible at www.icanwalk.ca, is a call to action encouraging Ontarians to use active transportation thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality.

Many of Ontario’s municipalities recognize the important benefits of walking and cycling and have begun to plan and design communities for active transportation. In the summer of 2009, Halton’s four Local Municipalities endorsed pedestrian charters demonstrating their commitment to creating a culture of walking. Halton Region also endorsed the International Charter for Walking in November 2009.

According to Green Communities Canada, if every driver in Ontario replaced just one kilometre per week of driving with active transportation, it would eliminate 135,626 tonnes of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere every year. Research shows that there is a lot of potential to make the shift to active transportation as the majority of car trips are short and can easily be walked or biked. Even in more rural areas where it may be necessary to drive a long distance to the closest community, you can choose to park in town and walk to your destinations.

“Active transportation allows you to build physical activity into your daily routine,” said Dr. Bob Nosal, Medical Officer of Health for Halton Region. “Current provincial recommendations are for 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise, such as brisk walking, swimming or raking leaves, five days a week. Regular activity can help reduce your risk of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, stroke, heart disease, osteoporosis and hypertension.”

Take the iCANwalk Pledge at www.icanwalk.ca to be eligible to win prizes such as Urban Poles, pedometers, an iPod Nano or Canada Walks merchandise.

Green Communities Canada is a national association of non-profit organizations that deliver innovative, practical environmental solutions to Canadian households and communities www.gca.ca.

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