Today I want to conclude my investigation of TransLink’s 2008 Regional Trip Diary Survey by looking at some of the travel trends from 1994 to 2008. What is interesting to note is there has been a reduction of 1,107,250 trips since 2004 or a 14% reduction in the total number of trips. While this large drop can be partials attributed to the economy depression we are in, since 1994 the amount of trips we make per capita has gone done from 2.91 to 2.65. Congestion plays a role in limiting the amount of trips people make as people tend to combine trips, move closer to their place of work, or not make their intended trip at all. According to the report “travel during the midday and evening has decreased since 1994”.
Improvements to transit like increased bus service and SkyTrain expansion has certainly helped in raising mode share. Transit mode share has increased from 8.1% in 1994 to 11.5% in 2008 What is interesting to note is that active transportation modes (walking/cycling) peaked at 14% in 1999 before flat-lining at a 12% mode share. We have really only started to invest in active transportation as a region and until we get a connected system of bike lanes, separated bike lanes, and strong emphasis on building mixed-used, pedestrian-friendly neighbourhoods out in the South of Fraser; I don’t expect this number to change.
Another encouraging number is that as a region we’ve reduced vehicle usage from 80.1% to 75% since 1994. This is something to be proud of as many other regions in Canada and North America can only dream of doing this. With the Gateway Program’s highways coming online in the next few years, it will be interesting to see if we’ll undo the progress we’ve made in shift travel modes.
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