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Active transportation is often talked about as a simple way to build physical activity into daily life, but the reality is more complex. In New Brunswick, the mix of rural areas, small towns, and larger urban centres means that opportunities to walk, bike, or take public transit vary widely. A new baseline study by DataNB digs into those differences and shows how distance and neighbourhood design influence everyday travel.

To explore opportunities to engage in active transportation over the life course, researchers conducted three case studies, focusing on

1. Children travelling to school,
2. Adults commuting to work, and
3. Older adults heading to health care appointments.

As expected, those who lived closest to their destinations were the most likely to use active transportation to reach them – but within these groups, an important finding stands out. At close distances, active transportation was strongly influenced by spatial accessibility: having access to safe, connected routes. Proximity alone wasn’t enough, and accessibility varied sharply across the province, with smaller population centres in particular having surprisingly low levels.

By bringing together linked administrative data, Statistics Canada sources, and NB Health Council survey data, this study paints a province-wide picture of AT opportunities. It points to where improvements could make the biggest impact, from walking and cycling routes near schools to transit access for older adults. The findings provide a foundation for future planning and help identify where investments could support healthier, more sustainable travel options.

Learn more.