Benefits

Benefits
Bicycle Lockers
Bicycle Rack Program
Bicycle Route Map
Bus Online
Cycling Courses
Education Programs
Rules of the Road

Active and sustainable transportation enhances physical, mental and emotional health. By walking, cycling, in-line skating, running, riding transit, carpooling and even teleworking you're getting exercise and do something that is good for your mind body and spirit.

Personal and Health Benefits
Economic Benefits
Community Benefits
Environmental Benefits
Employer Benefits

Personal and Health Benefits:

• Meet Health Canada's recommended physical activity guidelines of an hour a day of cumulative exercise.
• Reduce the air pollutants that negatively affect lung and heart health. Vehicle emissions increase the chance of asthma attacks and respiratory infections such as pneumonia and bronchitis, particularly among the elderly, the very young and those with existing respiratory disease.
• Enhance the quality of your relationship with the community and environment. Smell the roses, hit the local coffee shop, or chat with neighbours on the way to and from work.
• Save time. If you live within 5 km of your workplace, cycling is the quickest way to get from door to door.
• Enjoy comfort and convenience. Take the bus and read the paper, take a nap, or work on your laptop while someone else does the driving.

Back to top

Economic Benefits:

• Save tons of money! Driving 12,000 km per year costs an average of $8,377.05 per year or $25.17per day (Canadian Automobile Association 2004).
• Reduce health care costs for Canadians. It is estimated that transportation-related emissions will cost the health care system $11 billion to $38 billion between 1997 and 2020 (Transport Canada).
• Save tax dollars. Reduce roadway construction and maintenance costs

Back to top

Community Benefits:

• Active and sustainable transportation makes your community safer by reducing the risk of vehicle-pedestrian accidents.
• Increase social interaction within the community, resulting in improved personal relationships and community health.
• Support community-based businesses, such as coffee shops, restaurants, bakeries and newsstands.
• Decrease traffic noise. Engines and horns, or sprockets and bells? You decide!
• Reduce traffic jams and parking hassles.

Back to top

Environmental Benefits:

• Active and sustainable transportation keeps our air clean by improving air quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Reduce toxic air pollution. Pollutants from many transportation sources aggravate respiratory disease, and contribute to property damage and acid rain.
• Reduce the threat of climate change. It takes 130 trees to produce the amount of oxygen needed to combat the carbon dioxide emitted from one car each year.
• Conserve natural habitat. Fewer cars on the road decrease the demand for more roads and parking lots, allowing more land for greenspace.
• Driving less reduces the need for non-renewable fossil fuel resources.
• Reduce ozone layer destruction as motor vehicle air conditioners are the world's single largest source of CFC leakage into the atmosphere.

For more information, visit Environment Canada's web site.

Back to top

Employer Benefits:

• Active and sustainable modes of transportation enhance employee productivity, health and job satisfaction.
• Reduced sick days. Healthy commuters are more relaxed at the workplace, take fewer days off sick and have lower turnover.
• Reduce costs. Healthy commuters make fewer demands for subsidized parking and reduce traffic congestion.
• Reduce workplace accidents. Healthy commuters are more alert and adept at work.
• Enhance public image. Employers who promote and facilitate the well being of employees, communities, and the environment enjoy greater loyalty and respect from employees and customers alike.

For more information about telecommuting, please visit the Teletrips web site.

Back to top