Pathways to Sustainability in Rural Communities: Case Study of Active Transportation and Eco-Tourism at Pinawa, Manitoba, Canada

Active transportation (AT) strategies improve community living, health, and the environment in all communities, including rural ones. Pinawa is a small Canadian town in Manitoba that won national awards for active living but wanted an AT plan for further improvement. We undertook a case study of AT priorities of Pinawa’s community members and tourists through 22 semi-structured interviews, site observation, mapping, and cost-benefit analysis. Prioritizing AT users in infrastructure planning and design offers Pinawa many health, environmental, eco-tourism, and economic development benefits. Community priorities to enhance AT are improving infrastructure with bike lanes, sidewalks, crosswalks, and trails. Other planning factors, such as wayfinding signage, bike rentals, and shuttles, would further promote AT. This paper contributes to understanding the role of AT in rural communities, providing practical recommendations for infrastructure and policy changes.