AT is part of our future because it…
Improves Business, Tourism and Property Values
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Pedestrian friendly areas improve retail areas and generate increased sales.
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AT infrastructure that supports hiking, walking, and biking attracts tourism and boosts the economy.
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Properties near trails and neighbourhoods with sidewalks and green spaces increase property values and are attractive to buyers.
Improves Attractiveness and a Sense of Community
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AT infrastructure makes a more attractive community and builds a sense of neighborhood.
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AT infrastructure contributes to strong community identity that attracts new businesses and citizens.
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Mores eyes on the street helps reduce crime and create a sense of personal and family security
Improves Health and Contributes Towards a Healthy Workforce
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AT increases physical activity rates which, in turn, create healthier citizens. Healthier workers means increased productivity, reduced sick days and injuries in the workplace.
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62% of Nova Scotians and 61% of Canadians are currently too inactive. Physical inactivity costs the NS health care system $66.5 million a year in hospital, physician, and drug costs. It costs the NS economy an additional $247 million each year due to premature death and disability (Colman, 2002).
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32% of Nova Scotians, ages 2 to 17 are overweight or obese (NSDHPP, 2006). By the time students reach grade 11, only 1 in 10 is getting the activity they need to achieve health benefits.
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In Lunenburg County, 62% of adults and 27% of teens were overweight in 2005. These rates are higher than the rest of the province and the country (Canadian Community Health Survey, 2005).
Improves the Environment and Contributes Towards Sustainable Communities
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AT supports using non-polluting modes of transportation, which reduces the amount of emissions into the atmosphere and improves air quality.
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Each motor trip that is switched to cycling or walking avoids releasing 26g of hydrocarbon, 20g of carbon dioxide, and 1.6g of nitrogen oxides per passenger mile (Go for Green, 2000).
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1 in 4 NS youth suffer from asthma (NSDHPP, 2006).
Improves Efficiency and Safety
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AT reduces traffic congestion and the hazards it creates. It also reduces wear and tear on roads.
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Traffic congestion around schools poses a real safety risk to students. Safe routes to and from school will encourage children and families to bike and walk to and from school.
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Safe sidewalks will encourage baby boomers to retire in our community where they can walk or bike safely to and from services.
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Additional parking is not required which reduces land, construction and operating costs.