Active Transportation

 

St. Thomas is improving walkability by creating connections with new trails and sidewalks in the City.

For cycling and hiking routes in St. Thomas and Elgin County, click here for the new 2018 Trail Map 

 

Active Transportation is walking, running, hiking, biking and rolling.  It includes:

• Active Recreation: Using Active Transportation modes for fitness and recreation (e.g., hiking, walking, cycling, etc.)
• Active Destination Oriented Trips: Using Active Transportation modes for shopping, visiting  friends, attending sporting events, running errands etc.
• Active Commuting: Using Active Transportation to get to and from work and school.
• Active Workplace Travel: Using Active Transportation modes during the business day to attend meetings, make deliveries etc. 

Share the Road

Share the Road is a public safety campaign to increase motorists’ and bicyclists’ awareness of shared                    
responsibility for road safety. The campaign includes road side signage, education and awareness materials

Bicycles are vehicles under the Ontario Highway Traffic Act and have a right to be on the road.

~same road, same rules, same rights~

 

Drivers	Bicyclists	Walkers
Obey all traffic laws, signs and signals Bicycles are vehicles under the Highway Traffic Act and should be respected Be patient, slow down and give one metre clearence when passing bikes Check for bicyclists before opening your car door Always look for pedestrians and cyclists before turning Be patient, older pedestrians may need more time to cross the road Stay alert, slow down and be prepared for the unexpected JUST DRIVE	Obey all traffic laws, signs and signals Signal all turns Ride one metre from the curb Ride past parked cars as if all the car doors were open Ride in a straight line on the right hand side of the road Wear a helmet and bright clothing Bikes are required to have a horn or bell, white light on the front and red reflectors or red light on the back When cycling on trails, pedestrians have the righ of way; please use bell/horn when passing	Where there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic Cross at marked crosswalks or traffic lights, not in the middle of the block or between parked cars Make sure drivers see you before you cross Cross only when traffic has come to a complete stop Watch for traffic turning at intersections or driveways Wear bright clothing with reflective strips when walking in dusk or darkness When walking on trails, keep right to allow others to pass

All Elgin St Thomas municipalities have now officially adopted this Cycling Master Plan. The Plan was developed by the Healthy Communities Partnership which includes representation from each of the area municipalities and staff from Elgin St Thomas Public Health.

The Elgin St Thomas Cycling Master Plan:
• identifies primarily on road cycling routes to connect each of the municipalities,
• positions our community to access additional provincial and federal dollars,
• allows our community to tap into a huge cycle tourism market,
• encourages residents to become more active and have improved health outcomes.
• provides residents who do not have access to a vehicle (due to disability, income or choice) improved safety and mobility
• connects Elgin St Thomas cycling routes with routes identified in neighbouring Chatham-Kent and Oxford.

To review the routes and learn more about the project click on the PDF file. If you have questions, concerns or want to learn more about the project contact Elgin St. Thomas Public Health by emailing activeelgin@swpublichealth.ca or by calling 519 -631-9900 ext. 1304.