Policy Recommendations and three questions for the 2020 Provincial Candidates

(Questions were sent on October 12 to BC NDP, BC Liberals, and BC Greens and received their responses in order listed top down.)

Self-propelled trail users are severely impacted by motorized users and the re-designation of rail trails for industrial use.

Rail trails are unique due to their very low gradient, creating physical outdoor recreation opportunities for all ages and abilities.

The use of The Great Trail (formally known as the Trans Canada Trail) by motorized vehicles is ruining the surface of the southern interior rail trails making them very difficult, if not impossible, for most people to cycle, walk, or use mobility devices on them.

Why Rails Trails and Greenways matter:^¹

Social Equity: Rail trails and separated greenway trails provide safe routes for travel between communities for those who can’t or don’t want to drive motor vehicles.

Health: Trail usage is growing and is relatively safe from COVID-19. Walking and cycling on trails improves both physical and mental health indicators.

Safety: Highways or roads with high speed traffic often don’t have shoulders.

Build Back Better: Greenway trails provide nature-based destinations for trail visitors to support resilient communities.

Rural Communities: Trails provide a safe transportation space that respects new physical distancing requirements.

Climate Change: Active transportation use, for work or vacation, reduces carbon and greenhouse gas emissions.

Recommendations:

Prioritize the rail trails of The Great Trail for self-propelled recreation and active travel.

Provide an annual operational amount of $4 million to Recreation Sites and Trails BC.

Require all transportation strategies, budgets, and initiatives undergo an intersectional analysis (GBA+).

Increase funding to $40/person/year to support the development of active transportation plans and initiatives (2) to regional districts, municipalities, and First Nations.
Prioritize active transportation projects over motorized road and trail development.

Provide low cost financing, rentals, subsidies, and rebates for bicycles. adaptive cycles, and e-bikes and related equipment.

(1) The Conference Board of Canada. (2020). Trekking Canada’s Trails: The Benefits and Significance of Canada’s Trails System.

(2 ) Including construction, operations and maintenance costs, facilities development (e.g. bathrooms, showers, bike cages), and route planning and feasibility.

Questions for MLA Candidates in your riding

If elected, will you personally support legislation that prioritizes rail trails for self-propelled use for users of all ages and abilities?

If elected, will you personally support amending Forest Range and Practices Act to prioritize self-propelled recreation over industrial use and extraction on rail trails and other recreation trails?
If elected, will you personally support the increase in revenues to municipalities, regional districts, and First Nations to improve active transportation planning and infrastructure?

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Trail Closure Notification

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ONLY USE THIS FORM TO REPORT ISSUES ON THE TRANS CANADA TRAIL / THE GREAT TRAIL.

Trail maintenance issues are the responsibility of the Trail Steward, which is either the trail owner or a group was given authorization to perform maintenance work. Trails BC is a trail steward for a very limited number of trail segments on the Trans Canada Trail; unfortunately, if a major trail issue occurs along the Trans Canada Trail, there is often very little we can do about it - but we can try to pass on the information to the trail steward if one exists. And also, we can post the information to our site to warn other trail users.

Please send us information about:

Closures or obstacles along the trail - especially ones that are safety concerns or block users from passing through
Corrections to our online maps, which may include improvements to the trail alignment or updates about campsites, toilets, grocery stores and other details listed on our maps. We really appreciate these!

Information such as a precise location (GPS waypoint), photo, as well as your contact information is extremely helpful to ensure the problem is accurately reported, and so we can follow up with you.

AGAIN, DO NOT USE THIS FORM TO SUBMIT NOTICES ABOUT TRAILS THAT ARE NOT PART OF THE TRANS CANADA TRAIL. We will simply delete the submission and it will not be posted or passed on to anyone. If you need to report a closure on such a trail, please determine the trail owner or operator and send a notice to them.

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Trail Closure Notice Title

Trail Closure

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