Author: Sandra Magalhaes, Sana Ashraf, Samuel Robert Cookson, Kirstian Gibson, Laurence Lambert Côté, Kianna Mau, Sumit Raju
Year: 2026
Category:
Population Dynamics and Immigration,
Health Publications
Active transportation (AT) refers to non‑motorized modes of travel, such as walking or cycling. This study examines the conditions that shape opportunities to use AT in New Brunswick by assessing how close residents live to key destinations and whether neighbourhoods provide the infrastructure needed to support non‑motorized movement. Public transit is also considered as a companion mode of travel, given its links to higher physical activity and its contribution to similar environmental and community benefits.
Using administrative and survey data sources, researchers evaluated opportunities to participate in AT across three groups: children travelling to school, adults commuting to work, and older adults attending health care appointments. The analysis considered the impacts of both distance and neighbourhood spatial accessibility across diverse community settings.
Across all groups, AT use was strongly associated with proximity and the accessibility of local routes. Even when residents lived close enough to walk or bike to their destinations, gaps in infrastructure often constrained their ability to choose AT. The findings establish a baseline understanding of AT conditions across NB and identify areas where improved connectivity could enhance everyday mobility.
