88% of trips taken in Nanaimo are done in automobiles. Only nine percent are done on foot, two percent via public transit, and a mere one percent of trips are done on bicycle. Nanaimo’s roadways are not generally wide enough for bike lanes, nor are many cyclists and drivers comfortable sharing the same road. This puts Nanaimo well behind many of its peers in terms of promoting use of alternative modes of transportation.

The task of the Nanaimo Region Rail Trail Partnership is to facilitate the completion of the E&N Trail, to allow for safe and enjoyable non-vehicular travel through the region. Currently, the region’s trail system omits significant sections, leaving those using the trail unable to connect to destinations without having to travel on roadways that, in some cases, they consider unsuitable and/or unsafe.

 

The average automobile commuter in North America produces about 5 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. Bikes, on the other hand, run on calories, so cyclists have a very small carbon footprint assuming they are not eating too much more because of cycling! Other transportation alternatives, such as public transit and electric vehicles, although better than cars, still have higher relative carbon footprints than walking or biking.

 

Physical activity can benefit people of all ages. The body responds positively to physical activity, which impacts the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, respiratory, and endocrine systems. This results in positive health outcomes, including reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and several cancers, as well as other health conditions. The region benefits by having healthier citizens who can live longer, more active lifestyles. A healthier population will use medical facilities less frequently and will contribute to the local economy and culture for longer. 

 

The average cost of maintaining a bicycle is $308 per year, while the average yearly cost of maintenance and operation of a car is $8,220. Bike paths are also much cheaper to maintain for local governments than traditional roadways. The cost of gas, vehicles, parts, and automobile infrastructure will continue to rise, and the number of people who choose not to own a car, or are unable to afford to do so, will increase accordingly. As this trend continues, walking, biking and public transit infrastructure must be improved, in order to ensure that our region continues to be an affordable and convenient place to live.

 

The Rail Trail is open to everyone 24 hours a day, free of charge. The Rail Trail is also paved, allowing people of all ages and abilities to access and enjoy use of the pathway. Even today with only eight kilometers of trail, the E&N trail is busy with commuters and recreational users and we expect traffic to increase as the trail extends. The most telling sign that a trail is needed is that, in sections where there is no trail, the rail line is being used as a high traffic pedestrian walkway, which, of course, is unsafe.

 

In many regions, most notably Europe, cycling is not only the way people commute, but also the way people choose to travel. Cycle tourism is a huge international industry, but has not really taken hold in our region due to lack of infrastructure. Cyclists are looking for paved routes with lower traffic and lower gradients. The E&N rail line is the only Island link with less than a 3% gradient along its entire length.