CLIMATE RESILIENCE
ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION REDUCES EMISSIONS
WHISTLER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA
When planning your trip to a destination and getting around once you are there, consider using public transport or active transportation options. Visitors to Whistler, British Columbia, can use options that demonstrate how rethinking transportation can significantly reduce environmental impacts.
What's
changing
In car-dependent ski resort communities, recent increases in resident and visitor populations are causing challenges with heavy traffic and parking shortages. More importantly, these alpine ecosystems are disproportionately affected by climate change that is fueled in part by vehicle exhaust. To address these challenges and reduce greenhouse gas emissions attributed to tourism, resort communities are promoting sustainable transportation alternatives to preserve the environment and improve mobility for all.
What's already
possible
Over the past 30 years, visitor numbers to Whistler have more than doubled, and the resident population has increased by more than 70%. With this massive growth comes many more cars. To tackle this issue, the “Climate Action Big Moves Strategy” aims to make 50% of trips within the town car-free by 2030 by developing active transportation infrastructure.
Seizing
the opportunity
Active transportation is defined as any form of human-powered transportation, such as walking or cycling, for the purpose of commuting, recreation or exercise. The Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) has been encouraging active transportation since well before the strategy’s launch. The town has been improving connectivity and safety for cycling paths, making bike storage easier than car parking and offering affordable or free public transit to connect residents with their bikes between destinations. During peak months, RMOW adds temporary bike lanes along key routes and recently has established an e-bike sharing program. The Valley Trail, one of the best known examples of active transportation infrastructure within the municipality, has 46 kilometers (29 miles) of paved trails and boardwalks that pass through tourist and residential areas. It links to other trails that carry cyclists well beyond the municipality’s borders.
Standout
tactic
RMOW provides the “Bike Valet” program made up of free and secure bike storage facilities in popular locations in and around the village. This promotes cycling to areas where parking for vehicles is limited and expensive during the peak summer season. The bike facilities are monitored by attendants and have expanded hours during community events. The program is funded through parking lot fees. A grant from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure via the BC Cycling Coalition is funding expansion of the program in 2024.
How
it helps
Whistler’s 2022 climate progress report found that the proportion of residents traveling to work using active transportation increased from 46% in summer 2018 to 59% in summer 2022, which is important progress toward the 50% car-free goal for both visitors and residents by 2030. Rates slightly dropped in 2023, possibly due to increased carpooling.
Diving
deeper
While cycling infrastructure can promote cycling as a viable transportation option for communities, how can resort areas ensure that alternative transportation remains viable year-round, beyond just fair weather conditions?
Increasing
impact
Whistler has successfully transformed many residents' attitudes towards personal vehicle use. The next step is modifying visitors’ experiences so that emissions attributed to tourism also drop. By making it easy and appealing for tourists to adopt environmentally friendly transportation options, Whistler’s culture of sustainability can benefit everyone traveling to, from and within the destination.
Traveling
better
Travel is inherently carbon intensive. Whether you are taking a mini-break or an annual vacation, consider ways to minimize your impact by staying longer in one place, reconsidering how you travel to the destination, and supporting businesses that are working to make their community and the world a better place.
