Abstract Manager

The 60th parallel marks the start of Canada's North and the boundary between the provinces and territories in Canada. This region is home to extreme winter cold, significant snowfall, and less than 5 hours of daylight in the winter months. Despite this, the Yukon Territory is known for its year-round outdoor lifestyle. The capital city of Whitehorse (~37,000 people), is a national leader in gender parity in cycling, according to the results of the 2021 Pedal Poll.

Inspired by leading international northern cities such as Oulu, Finland, and driven by passionate community members and innovative First Nations partners, the City of Whitehorse is taking significant steps to increase cycling and walking. The City has developed a Bicycle Network Plan and is implementing an All Ages and Abilities cycling network. The City is working towards a Vision Zero Safe Mobility Action Plan, traffic calming framework, transportation demand management guide for employers, and has reduced speed limits on residential roads.

In this interactive presentation, speakers from the City of Whitehorse and Urban Systems  will dispel common myths about why active transportation doesn’t work in smaller and northern communities. We will tackle pressing issues such as funding, demand, and maintenance using real-world examples. These learnings will be of interest to a national audience, since there is a perception among many practitioners and community members that active transportation is not practical in small communities or during the winter.