Vancouver
Your city and your health are more connected than you think.
Cities across Canada are making major investments in new infrastructure, like better transit and new cycling networks, to make it easier for people to get around without a car. These investments are designed to reduce traffic congestion and make city life more sustainable. But they could also shape our health and well-being. With over 80% of Canadians living in urban areas, the potential impact is huge. But there is a lot we still don’t know. Can building better infrastructure actually increase physical activity, well-being, and social connectedness? Does everyone benefit, or are some residents being left out?
Help us learn how to build healthy, happy, and connected cities.
INTERACT is bringing together thousands of people in cities across Canada to evaluate the health impacts of sustainable transportation infrastructure. In Vancouver, our team at SFU is inviting a diverse mix of residents from across the city to help us study the use and benefits of urban greenways. Greenways are paths that prioritize walking, rolling and cycling. They connect people and places and offer spaces to enjoy nature and socialize. Participation is easy and an opportunity to add your voice to innovative local research that aims to guide healthy and equitable community design in Vancouver, and beyond.
Thank you for joining, Vancouver!
Recruitment for the 2024 data collection has ended.
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%
of participants would use City Greenways more if they were car-free routes
participants use the most popular greenways on average 8 days a month during the spring summer and fall.
%
think that City Greenways are a very good idea
The intervention
Vancouver’s City Greenways are routes that prioritise active transportation, expand urban recreational opportunities, and serve as high-quality linear public spaces. Popular routes such as the Arbutus and Central Valley Greenways link neighbourhoods across Vancouver and carry regional cycling traffic between Vancouver and neighbouring municipalities, like Burnaby and New Westminster. The City is working toward building an integrated city-wide network of 18 Greenways that will be within a 10-minute cycle or half-hour walk of every residence in Vancouver.
Learn more about Vancouver’s City Greenway program.