Active Transportation is a form of human-powered travel such as walking, cycling, skating, roller blading, wheelchairs, scooters, e-bikes, anything that involves mobility. The most popular forms of transportation include walking and cycling which in recent years have become more expressed as physical activity.
Bike Month 2023
Bike Month returns this year with in-person events and a hopeful outlook that cycling can bring people together for some healthy, sustainable fun! A Bike Month event can be just about anything as long as it involves bikes. In the past, people have hosted bike rides, festivals, film nights, workshops, seminars, get-togethers and more. Bike Month is a celebration of cycling! Where will your bike take you? Head over to BikeMonth.ca and share your event for everyone to enjoy!
What's in store for Bike Month in Halton Hills?
Bike Month Scavenger Hunt |
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A bike scavenger hunt is a fun and exciting way to explore the Town by bike. Participants can complete the scavenger on their own or as part of a team while taking selfies at all the designated locations during Bike Month (between June 1 and 30, 2023). Once you find a location, take a selfie with your bike and the sign in the background and upload your photo to the contest page (letstalkhaltonhills.ca/BikeMonth) for your chance to earn some great prizes. Prizes
Review the contest rules and regulations. |
Bike Month Bingo |
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A Bike Bingo Card is a fun and engaging way to encourage people to get out and ride their bikes more often. Participants can download and print a bingo card or pick one up at Town Hall, Halton Hills Public Libraries (Acton and Georgetown), Gellert Community Centre, Mold-Masters SportsPlex, and Acton Arena. The bingo card contains different squares with various bike-related activities and challenges to complete with your bike throughout the month of June. The goal is to complete as many squares as possible either in a straight line, diagonally or even filling the entire card. Download the Halton Bingo card and learn how to submit your winning card. |
Bike it to Market |
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June 17, 2023 from 8 a.m. to noon! Ride your bike to the Georgetown Farmers Market and leave it in the free secure bike parking while you enjoy a pancake breakfast courtesy of the Georgetown Rotary Club and McDonald’s. Breakfast is free to all who arrive by bike - look for our secure bike parking in the Main Street parking lot. Stay for children’s activities hosted by the Bike It Task Force or wander through the market to find great produce and one-of-a-kind products! Main Street from the Farmers Market to Maple Avenue will be closed to vehicular traffic to make the ride safer for the whole family. |
Safe Cycling 101 Workshops |
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Join the Safe Cycling 101 Workshops taking place this Bike Month. We'll show you everything you need to know about biking with confidence in Halton Hills. Topics include equipment and bike fitting, safe riding techniques, rules and responsibilities, interactions with others, choosing your route, and more!
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Bike Month Event Calendar |
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The Bike Month event calendar is where you can share community events taking place during Bike Month (June 1-30). You’ll find online cycling workshops, rides, and other activities taking place throughout the month. The positive impacts of riding a bike become even more apparent when you see how many others are riding with you. Check out our Bike Month Events Calendar for a range of community events across the GTHA planned for Ride A Bike Day and beyond. |
Cycling Map |
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The Town of Halton Hills offers many different routes mixed with multi-use trails, park paths, bicycle lanes and signed bike routes for your next cycling trip. Download our cycling map to view on your computer or mobile device at anytime. Printed copies of the cycling map are available at Town facilities (while supplies last), or you can download a copy: |
As concerns for public health and the statistics/evidence behind active transportation has been shown to improve daily lives and health of many individuals the push to continue pursuing this path is evident. Many transportation networks that are included in active transportation include sidewalks, multi-use paths, on road bike lanes and off- road bike lanes.
Types of Infrastructure
Sidewalks
Sidewalks are located within the public road right-of-way throughout the urban areas of the Town of Halton Hills. They are one of the most essential designs to create in active transportation. Most people use them to walk/run, and rollerblade. Sidewalks provide a safe network for people and are an alternative to get around without using the roads.
Multi-Use Pathway
A multi-use trail is a facility that is separate from the travelled portion of a roadway and may take the form of an in-boulevard trail in a public road right-of-way or an off-road multi-use trail within a greenway, abandoned rail corridor, or utility/hydro corridor. These types of trails are typically designed to support the widest range of users including pedestrians, cyclists, in-line skaters and skateboarders where trail surfaces permit such activities. These pathway can be paved with concrete, asphalt, or may be surfaced with stone dust, fine limestone, or gravel screenings.
Painted bicycle lane
Bicycle lanes are added throughout the Town of Halton Hills and are providing a safe and comfortable way to travel without interfering with traffic from cars and pedestrians. Bike lanes are dedicated to cyclists and cause a division from the road and the sidewalk so that biking is more suitable. Bike lanes are painted in a solid white line and are a symbol of regulatory sign that creates a path for bicycle users.
Buffered bicycle lane
Buffered bicycle lanes provide more protected space for bicycling than a painted bicycle lane, typically through a painted buffer or “shy” zones on one or both sides of bicyclists. Plastic posts can be used to delineate the lanes. These lanes may be further separated from traffic by a parking lane.
Paved shoulder
Where intended for bicyclist use, and provided enough width is available, paved shoulders on the edge of roadways can serve as a functional space for bicyclists in the absence of other facilities with more separation or delineation.
Major street shared lane
Shared use lanes provide direct routes for experienced bicyclists along the outer travel lane of a roadway. While bicyclists mix with motor vehicle traffic, they are separate from pedestrians using the sidewalk, where a sidewalk exists. Sharrows are painted on the road surface to remind drivers they must share the road with bicyclists and help position road users on the roadway.
Benefits of Active Transportation
Health and Fitness
- More energy
- Better sleep
- Increased confidence and productivity
- Increased happiness
- Decreased stress
- Improved posture, balance, flexibility, and muscle strength
- Improved self-image
Environmental
- Reduce Air pollution
- Reduce traffic congestion
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Transportation
- Reduced road congestion and maintenance costs
- Less expensive infrastructure
- Increased road safety
- Decreased user costs
Build an active transportation lifestyle:
- Biking and walking instead of using a car to and from work.
- Bike to school instead of getting a drive.
- Encourage family or groups to use transportation such a rollerblading, cycling and walking/running.
Also ask yourself:
- How far is the place I need to get to?
- Are there pedestrian and bicycle lanes?
- Did I meet my daily activity level for the day?
Past Active Transportation Improvements |
2021
2020
2019
2018
Since adoption of the Cycling Master Plan (2010)
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Active Transportation Master Plan |
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The Town of Halton Hills has developed a comprehensive Active Transportation Master Plan to guide the Town in implementing a Town-wide cycling network over the next 10 years and beyond. The Active Transportation Master Plan document was adopted by Council in 2020. |
Bicycle and Driving Safety |
Bicycle Safety
Driver Safety
Helmet Safety
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Health and Safety |
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At Halton Hills, many different approaches have been implemented to address the safety concerns, bicycle parking, and sidewalk structures. With the implementation to active transportation comes the benefits of improved air quality, reduced contribution to climate change and efficient transportation modes to get from place-to-place. With active transportation it has been shown that people with better access to facilities, trails, designed infrastructure for mobility devices, public transportation, all have been shown to improve quality of life and health. |
Frequently asked questions |
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Related pages |
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Want to learn more about active transportation in Ontario? Here are some helpful links.
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