Greenways: Why they are essential for communities
Now the age old adage of transportation planning goes like this. Build more lanes, increase the flow. Then came build more bus lanes and trains, increase the flow of people.
Now the new adage is build more greenways, increase the flow, and our health. But why greenways? What makes them unique among other transportation solutions?
Greenways are roads that are designated by signage, traffic calming measures, curb extensions and ancillary paths, and bike priority signalling that allows cyclists to use the roadway more safely.
In the city of Vancouver, in British Columbia, Canada, greenways are an integral part of the road network. Greenways connect every part of the city to every other part of the city, quickly and easily, allowing cyclists and pedestrians to use our roads safely.
For example, you can ride right across the city from the edge at Boundary Road to the other side by taking the Ridgeway greenway to Nanaimo Street, then the 45th Avenue greenway the rest of the way.
Alternatively, you can ride the Ontario greenway from the north end of Vancouver to the south end.
Connecting greenways across a region has many benefits. It encourages active transportation (cycling and walking), which improves the overall health of our citizens. Cycling is also a more dense form of transportation on our roads. You can fit four to five cyclists in the space of a single car somewhat comfortably. Cycling allows us to connect with our communities by engaging with other cyclists, and pedestrians.
For those facing mental health challenges, cycling can also improve our mental health. For those with Borderline Personality Disorder, cycling fulfills the I in the TIPP skill (Intense Physical Activity).
For local businesses, going at a slower pace with cycling brings massive local economic development opportunities, since cyclists are more often able to stop at local businesses along the way, instead of driving to the nearest big box store.
Greenways also allow financially disadvantaged people to commute as well, by offering affordable, cost effective, and safe transportation in our urban communities, whether it be by walking, or cycling.
And finally, for our Earth, climate change is a real threat to our civilization. Greenways allow for human-powered transportation. Human-powered transportation is by definition zero-emission, and as a result, does not emit pollutants into our atmosphere.
There are so many benefits to greenways that are offered to communites who choose to install greenways. It is a transportation policy, that in my opinion, more cities should adopt. Community, economic, social, and health benefits are all over the place with greenways. Let’s build more!
