Reduced emissions, greater physical activity, and a stress-free daily commute – the case for active transport in our cities is compelling. Active transport, which includes walking, cycling, and even skateboarding, is more than just a way to get around. It’s a powerful tool in our fight against climate change and a boost for our physical and mental health.
An Oxford University study found that swapping just one car trip per day for a form of active transport can reduce an average person’s carbon footprint by up to 0.5 tonnes annually. To put that into perspective, if every person living in Wellington and Melbourne switched to active transport for one day a week, each city could reduce its annual carbon footprint by about 212,220 and 2,657,800 tonnes respectively. That’s the same carbon reduction achieved as the removal of 45,000 and 570,000 vehicles from the roads for a year. Compact cities, where you can access all your needs through active transport, are the future.
As urban areas become more densely populated, walking or cycling will often be the quickest and most efficient way to travel short distances. This shift not only eases traffic but also makes our cities more liveable and connected. Imagine a city where the air is cleaner, the streets are quieter, and people are healthier – that’s the promise of active transport.
When considering cities that are successful models for active transport (think Amsterdam for cycling or Munich for walking), it's often easy to overlook that they were once car-dominated areas. Yes, change requires significant courage, but it can start small.
Road maintenance projects offer the perfect opportunity to enhance active transport infrastructure. When roads are being repaired or upgraded, it’s the ideal time to add or improve bike lanes, pedestrian paths, and other facilities that support active transport. This not only makes our roads safer for everyone but also encourages more people to leave their cars at home.
Governments in Australia and New Zealand are recognising the importance of active transport. National and state-level strategies are being implemented to create more connected and accessible towns and cities. These strategies focus on investing in public transport and developing infrastructure that supports walking and cycling.
Egis has been involved in several impactful active transport projects throughout Australia and New Zealand. Our Australian projects, like the Parramatta to Sydney Foreshore Link, which is Sydney's longest continuous 91km walking and bike riding route, or the Sutherland to Cronulla Active Transport Link, aim to create high-quality, continuous routes for pedestrians and cyclists, improving access to key destinations and providing practical alternatives to car trips. These active transport projects connect key destinations such as transport interchanges, schools, residential areas and business precincts.
In New Zealand, our projects have enhanced the safety of school routes for children walking and cycling, improved multi-modal connectivity and accessibility to key destinations and public transport interchanges, and ensured people can safely ride and store their bikes throughout cities.
To enhance this, we also identify and pursue the potential of 'placemaking' alongside our active transport projects to capitalise on the local community's assets, indigenous culture and inspiration in the region. We intend to create public spaces that welcome and improve urban vitality and promote people's health, happiness, and wellbeing during their commute or day-to-day activities.
The future of transport is underpinned by accessible, connected, and safe active transport. Egis is creating a more sustainable, healthier, and connected future. Talk to us about how you can take advantage of every opportunity, like road maintenance projects, to build the infrastructure that your city needs.
