Rain, shine, or snow, I run to and from work almost every day. Part of this is due to habit, part of it is due to my car-free lifestyle, and maybe just a small part can be attributed to sheer foolishness. From my home in the Parkdale neighbourhood, it’s a journey that takes me through parts of McCauley and Boyle Street, and the downtown core.

Running, for some, is an activity best done solo, pointing to the mental clarity that it can provide. I appreciate this aspect of running, but I have also come to see my “run-commute” as an opportunity to interact with others.

Often the first people I converse with in the morning are those I encounter while running. Whether camped out along the Stadium LRT line, or huddled outside the Bissell Centre, almost without fail, I meet people who don’t hesitate to shout a hello, or stop me to ask how I’m doing.

I’ve been reflecting on how much these daily interactions mean to me, and the benefits that I’ve been afforded by choosing an active form of transportation. Active transportation, according to the Government of Canada, is defined as “any form of human-powered transportation – walking, cycling, using a wheelchair, in-line skating, or skateboarding.”

We see firsthand here in Edmonton just how much focus there’s been on active transportation lately in the spirited debate regarding bike lanes. Those fighting for enhanced infrastructure experienced much frustration as they found their voices stifled by those who’d prefer to maintain the status quo. However, thanks to the commitment and advocacy of citizens, a victory for active transportation was won with City Council’s recent decision to construct a downtown bike lane grid.

Driving is not only an inactive form of transportation, for most, it’s also a solitary endeavour. In our city, the statistics on carpooling are dismal: only about 15% of Edmontonians who drive do so with one or more others. Similarly, take a look around you the next time that you’re on the bus or the LRT. Notice how many heads are down, focused on their phones, rarely engaging with those around them.

Social isolation is a concern here in our city, and it’s an issue that has far-reaching effects, particularly on our mental health.

Social isolation is a concern here in our city, and it’s an issue that has far-reaching effects, particularly on our mental health. In the area of social studies education, where I work, we talk about the power of instilling in our students the importance of active, engaged citizenship. And so I wonder – what if we took this model of active, engaged citizenship, and applied it to the realm of transportation?

Imagine the shift that we could make to improve community and social bonds in our city if we each considered how we might make transportation choices that are a little more active, and a little more engaged. Perhaps, if the environmental, health, and economic benefits aren’t enough to motivate us, maybe the social and psychological benefits are.

In a large city designed for cars and car owners, it’s not easy for many to run, bike, or walk to work. Undoubtedly, many Edmontonians don’t have a lot of choice when it comes to their mode of transportation. But, some of us do have a choice, and we can work to help shift mindsets by modeling active, engaged transportation, one step at a time.

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Janis Irwin is a Parkdale resident who spends a lot of time in the Boyle Street and McCauley neighbourhoods. Say hello if you see her around, and see what she’s up to at janisirwin.ca.