Active Transportation 101 Workshop Series Report

Submitted March 14, 2013 by the Ecology Action Centre Active Transportation 101 and its associated workshops were developed and offered through a partnership between the Ecology Action Centre and the Department of Health and Wellness.

Summary

In Fall 2012 and Winter 2013, workshops were offered across the province to municipalities and communities based on the new resource Active Transportation 101: Bringing AT to Your Community and Developing an AT Plan (AT 101). The 1.5 to 3.5 hour workshops were meant to help increase knowledge about active transportation (AT) and increase the capacity of municipalities and communities to plan for and implement AT on the ground. A total of 13 workshops were held involving 203 participants from 35 municipal units.

Workshop Goals and Objectives

For all except for Yarmouth and Colchester, the workshops had similar goals and objectives as follows.

Goal: To build support for and understanding about active transportation and show what’s possible

Objectives:  Increase participants’ knowledge of: o AT and its benefits o AT assets in their area o AT possibilities  Inspire participants to support AT efforts locally

Two workshops were unique: The Yarmouth workshop was a strategic planning session meant to help clarify the Yarmouth AT Committee’s vision, goals and activities. The Colchester workshop was also a strategic planning session mean to help stakeholders plan out an approach to the active transportation social marketing project for which they recently received funding.

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Workshop Series Overview

There were 13 workshops held involving 203 participants from over 35 municipal units. An average of 15 people attended each workshop.

Workshop/Host # of # of Municipal Units Next Steps Participants Municipal Represented Units Highland Region 25 8 Municipality of Those municipalities that didn’t (Antigonish, the District of already have an AT Committee, , Guysborough, discussed creating them. They Guysborough): , planned to hold two workshops Sept. 27 from Municipality of St. targeted toward elected officials 1:30 to 4:30, Mary's, Town of to educate them on and buy-in for Antigonish Mulgrave, Town active transportation: the of Pictou, Town of Antigonish / Guysborough New Glasgow, workshop took place on Antigonish November 27 (at which AT 101 County, Town of was presented to 25 elected Antigonish officials and staff); the Pictou workshop has yet to be scheduled. Town and 20 3 Municipality of Form an AT committee. They also Municipality of Clare, Digby discussed the need to create an Digby: Oct. 30 County, Town of AT vision for the area. from 2 to 4 pm, Digby Digby West Hants, 30 3 West Hants, Form an AT committee including and Windsor, all three municipal units. They are Windsor: Nov. 7 Hantsport considering making an application from 6:30 to 9:30, to the Nova Scotia Moves funding Windsor grant. Inverness County: 10 1 Municipality of Form an AT committee. Nov. 14 from 6 to the County of 8 pm, Cheticamp Inverness Victoria County: 5 2 Victoria County, Form an AT committee. Nov. 15 from 6 to 8 pm, Baddeck : Nov. 21 7 1 Town of Kentville Form an AT committee. from 6 to 9 pm Will review the trail system and coordinate having people trained for Trail Patrol and look into signage for the downtown area. There will be a rail trail workshop in Kentville on April 17.

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Workshop/Host # of # of Municipal Units Next Steps Participants Municipal Represented Units Barrington and 8 2 Municipality of Form an AT committee. The Clark's Harbour: the District of Physical Activity Coordinator plans Nov. 22 from 6:30 Barrington and to meet with Public Health to to 8:30, the Town of work on an NS Moves grant for Barrington Clark's Harbour funding to do a project similar to Chester's Recreation Map & Guide. Town and 11 3 Municipality of Form an AT committee. Since the Municipality of the District of workshops, it was decided that an Shelburne: Nov. Shelburne, Town AT Working Group will be formed 26 from 6:30 to 8 of Shelburne, to do work on a project by project pm, Shelburne Town of basis. This group will meet in the New Year to get things going. : 20 1 Town of Port Form an AT committee with the Nov. 28 from 6 to Hawkesbury first meeting held on January 15. 8 pm 9 3 Town of This workshop was the beginning Active Yarmouth, of a process for the YCAT to clarify Transportation Municipality of its purpose and how it works as a Committee: Dec. Yarmouth, committee. Future committee 11 (special Municipality of meetings will involve fleshing out tailored strategy Argyle the ideas discussed during the session) workshop and organizing a meeting for councillors and staff of the three municipal units. The spring UNSM Conference is a possible opportunity to highlight AT in Yarmouth County. Cumberland 18 4 Cumberland Form an AT committee. County: Dec. 12 County, Town of from 1:30 to 4:30 , Town pm, Amherst of Oxford, the Town of Springhill Clare: Jan. 16 25 1 Municpality of Form an AT committee. from 10 am to 2 Clare pm, Little Brook Colchester: Feb. 15 3 Town of Truro, This workshop was a planning 12, 9 to 12 pm, Municipality of session for the AT social Truro Colchester, Village marketing project (taking MoveOn of Bible Hill Colchester to the next level).

Interest from other areas included:  HRM: St. Margaret’s Bay, Mainland North ( Clayton Park), Porter’s Lake

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 Kings County  Queens County  (Eskasoni hosting several communities)  CBRM

Workshop Participants

Municipal representatives included: Other Organizations/Individuals Represented:

 MPALs/Physical Activity Coordinators  Citizens/residents  Physcial Activity Strategy Committee members  Public Health  Culture & Leisure Services Coordinator  Community Health Board  Recreation Directors  School Boards  Councillors  High School  Wardens  School Parent-Teacher groups  Deputy Warden  Physical Activity/Health Committees  COA  Nova Scotia Department of Health and  Deputy CAO Wellness  Planners  Nova Scotia Dept. of Transportation and  Directors of Planning Infrastructure Renewal (attended 1 workshop)  Director of Planning & Development  AT Committees  Director of Public Works  Cyclists  Eastern District Planning Commission  Velo Cape Breton  Director of Policy and Research  Bike shop owners  Superintendant of Public Works  Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada  General Manager Facilities and Operations  YMCA  Municipal Program Supervisor  Community Rep/Early Childhood Intervention  Director of Finance  Women`s Centre  Director of Environmental, Safety and  RCMP Community Affairs  Local newspaper  Renewable Energy & Climate Change  Youth skate boarding group  Community & Economic Development  Cobequid Trails Consulting  Aquatics Director  Trails Committee  Sno Dusters (Snowmobile group)  Trails groups (Greenways NS)  Business representatives  Regional Development Authorities  Environmental Group (Avondale Peninsula Watershed Preservation Society)

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Workshop Process

Local Organizer

Janet Barlow, of the Ecology Action Centre (EAC), worked collaboratively with local organizers to draft an agenda and plan the promotion and logistics of the workshop. In some cases, this involved working with one individual, in other cases it involved working with several people or a committee to organize the event.

EAC’s role was to provide:  Workshop presentation and facilitation (can have workshop hosts help facilitate too if you like)  Workshop materials  Workshop promotional materials (poster, invitation, email/web write ups)

The workshop host role was to provide:  Workshop logistics such as booking the venue, providing food/beverages  Workshop promotion: distribution of posters, invitations, email and web write ups, etc.) and registration of participants

Promotion

Promotion of the event locally was conducted by the local organizer with input from EAC on who to invite. It was suggested to local organizers to invite: municipal representatives: councillors and staff (including planning, recreation, police and others); businesses; RCMP; residents; cycling groups; walking and running groups; AT committee members; NSTIR and DHW local rep; trails groups; local doctors; principal or rep from school SAC; community health board; public health; and more.

EAC provided media write ups including an invitation and various promotional pieces to with local media and social media. The Cumberland County invitation is attached and the Promotional Pieces document for Port Hawkesbury are included as examples.

Some workshops were by invite only (such as Antigonish, Cumberland County, Yarmouth and Colchester). The remaining workshops were promoted to the public.

Workshop Delivery

Here is a sample agenda from the Cumberland County AT workshop in Amherst on December 12. Agendas and lengths of workshops varied from community, based on their need and readiness.

1:30: Introduction 1:40: Overview of AT (presentation) 2:10: Where We’re AT! (discussion) 2:40: Break 2:55: Where Could We Go with AT? (discussion) 3:25: Engaging Municipal Officials (presentation and discussion) 4:00: Forming an AT Committee (presentation and discussion) 4:15: Wrap Up (including evaluation)

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4:30: Workshop ends

In two cases –Digby and Clare – a walkabout outside was included to experience and discuss infrastructure and other aspects of local roads.

Discussions were recorded on flipcharts for each workshop. The highlights of discussions are summarized below in the Feedback: Where Could We Go With AT section as well as in the Feedback: Further AT Supports Needed section.

A prize draw for the “Planning and Design for Pedestrians and Cyclists” book from Velo Quebec was offered at the end of each workshop as an incentive to complete evaluation forms. In some cases the workshop host offered additional prizes.

Evaluation

Participants were asked to complete an evaluation form at the end of each workshop to provide feedback on the workshop content and quality. This is summarized in the Evaluation section below.

Feedback as also collected on what further AT supports were needed to help communities move AT forward. This is summarized in the Feedback: Further AT Supports Needed section below.

Workshop Report

A report was provided to local workshop organizers along with the power point presentation slides for distribution to all workshop attendees. The reports include the following sections:  Workshop Goals and Objectives  Agenda  Participants  Workshop Notes  Photos  Evaluation  Next Steps  AT Resources  Appendix I: Participant List (detailed contact information)  Appendix II: Evaluation (detailed summary of responses)

The Final Report for each workshop is available upon request. The Cumberland County workshop Final Report is included as an example.

Evaluation

Feedback from participants was overall positive. The majority felt that the workshops:  Increased their knowledge of active transportation and its benefits  Increased their knowledge of active transportation assets in their area  Increased their knowledge of active transportation possibilities  Inspired them to support active transportation efforts in their area

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Participants felt the workshop facilitation and various aspects of the workshop were effective. An evaluation summary is included in each workshop Final Report.

Feedback: AT Assets

After brainstorming ideas, most workshop participants seemed pleasantly surprised that their community had more AT assets than they initially thought. Here is an overview of many of the assets identified by the various communities:  Some ICSPs have AT, PA strategies  Some have good buy-in from council  Trails a strong asset in most communities  Sidewalks (some with snow removal), bike lanes, paved shoulders, signage (Share the Road)  Events  Scenery, tourist draw  MPALS  Bike racks  School programs, walk to school, etc.  Bike rodeos  Blue Route  Education pieces  Bike clubs, walking clubs  Walking tracks  Trail groups, other supportive community organizations  A few had AT plans  Local champions

Feedback: Where Could We Go With AT?

Here are some general themes that came out of the workshops on where communities could go with AT:  Planning  Policies Municipal  Policies Provincial  Education  Schools  Trails  Sidewalks/Walking (snow removal included)  Cycling (interest in Blue Route)  Skateboarding  Signage  Roads General  Connected  Business/Tourism  Building Support

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Feedback: Further AT Supports Needed

At the end of each workshop, participants filled out the evaluation form, which included the following question: “What further supports do you need to be better able to implement active transportation in your community (such as training, resources, policies or other supports)?” Here is a summary of the information collected. The six areas listed below are ordered in terms of frequency of comment. Specific comments or summaries of comments are included to give the reader an idea of the scope and emphasis of what participants were looking for in terms of AT supports needed.

1. People/Champions:  Political and community will  Local government develop with help from champions in the area (policies)  Build the network of people  More people/partnerships  Community leaders  Buy-in from community  Time, people to implement  Gov’t leadership/partnerships  Would like council, staff, businesses and other citizens/stakeholders to buy-in to AT opportunities. Patience, Patience! Have EAC present tonight is a step in the right direction.  Networking and $ and political will – sustainable  We need to recruit people, get interest developed first  Need everyone on board – businesses, town council, constituents, community groups, etc.  Closer working/connections with municipal representatives interested in AT and employers with role to play in AT  MPALs  Have a contact from Chester or other successful municipal be a “mentor”  Support from elected officials, TIR etc.  How to influence/engage decision makers.  Buy-in from council will help with success.  I hope the support from Ecology Action Centre will continue to support municipality in the next steps  [EAC] Be available to meet to share ideas and gain advice/input – You are a great resource!

2. Resources:  Resources  Money  Local inventory of resources  What other communities have done to overcome barriers to implementing AT  Experiences from other communities, success stories, etc.  Email assets and ideas from the different communities (AT 101) workshops  Ideas for rural areas  Keep newsletter coming  Sample presentations to council/committees would help (i.e. funding/getting projects on priority listings etc.)  Resources/funding will be an asset moving forward.  Information “en francais”  ASRTS – STP resources/support  Supports and incentives for participants of AT

3. Policies:  Examples of policies  Government policies  Infrastructure  Policies and support  Some guidance in implementing AT elements/policies

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 Policies to be relaxed, changed, implemented, more flexibility in policies that hinder AT  Skateboarding - designated skateboard friendly sidewalks/areas

4. Training:  Training for municipalities  Follow-up sessions  More training, more awareness, more people involved  Education – leadership to promote new ideas and champion these ideas  How to be sustainable  Training other people from the community  Presenters/best practices from other areas  More experienced practitioners to advise – training

5. Awareness/Education:  Awareness campaign, educating people  Safety training  Programs including young children and families in AT  Bike training courses and bike repair shop  More advertising  Motivation for people who “have” to walk/bike because of their economic situation.

6. AT Plans & Committees:  AT plan approved by councils  Focus on a few goals  Developing and implementing an understandable plan  Facilitation for AT plan  Implement active transportation pilot project  Create a committee  Follow-up  Committee, municipal buy-in

Recommendations & Next Steps

Based on the feedback collected from the 13 workshops, here are recommendations on next steps for addressing the six areas of AT support cited above.

1. People/Champions:  Hold networking and sharing events  Develop and offer education pieces / experiences for decision-makers  Provide more provincial government staff time to support municipalities in their AT efforts

2. Resources:  Continue the bi-monthly Active Transportation NS E-news bulletin  Expand online resources (success stories, policies, etc.)  Increase funding for active transportation at provincial and municipal levels

3. Policies:  Create policy templates for municipalities to use and adapt  Provide support in implementation of AT policies and infrastructure  Make provincial-level policy change to enable more AT (removing barriers and policies that hinder it)

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4. Training:  Provide municipalities training sessions on specific aspects of AT (infrastructure, policy)  Provide a speaker series of success stories

5. Awareness/Education:  Provide more provincial support for current Share the Road and Social Marketing pilot projects to make them great and increase their chances for successful provincial launches

6. AT Plans & Committees:  Assistance in AT plan implementation (advice, training, funding)  Provide support to AT committees in strategizing

Because the workshops did not include HRM and CBRM, here are some specific areas that are currently issues or will need attention in these areas in the future. These points are based on EAC’s experience and involvement in two or more committees in both areas along with information gathered through our contacts and networks:  Speed reduction  Pedestrian safety  Bridge closures and AT access (both HRM & CBRM)  Roundabouts and their impacts on AT  Provincial road plans versus municipal AT plans  Policy changes to support cycling infrastructure (changes to the Motor Vehicle Act)

Other cross-cutting issues to address province-wide or keep on the radar include:  Gas tax: renegotiating what it applies to  Provincial municipal fiscal review committee and implications for AT  Rural AT

Attachments

The following workshop documentation is attached as examples:  Invitation (West Hants/Hantsport/Windsor)  Promotional Pieces document (Port Hawkesbury)  Final Report (Cumberland County)  Presentation (Cumberland County)

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