3. Guided walking programs
Photo and maps from the WALKit program. Source: City of Surrey
See it in action
City of Surrey, BC – WALKit Activity Program
Creating city- or community-led walking programs can help encourage older adults to participate in physical activity with their neighbours and get to know their surroundings.
Challenge: Older adults can feel lonely or disconnected from their neighbourhoods.
Solution overview: The City of Surrey’s WALKit Activity Program connects older adults to Surrey’s neighbourhoods, with guided routes designed to provide participants with community information about services and programs that support the City’s aging in place model, including where to find the local primary care centre, tips on pedestrian safety, or where to find a local library or activity centre. The walking routes aim to accommodate people of all abilities.
The program takes place year-round on a weekly basis, and is offered in English, Punjabi, and Mandarin. An average of 20 to 30 participants join the program on a weekly basis. Since its inception, an estimated 1,400 have participated.
The basis of this program came from the WALKit web map project, where the City created a map of Surrey that shows the walkability and accessibility of streets, including sidewalks (e.g. their condition and material), proposed neighbourhood routes, major bus stops, areas of interest, and trails.
Solution overview: The City of Surrey’s WALKit Activity Program connects older adults to Surrey’s neighbourhoods, with guided routes designed to provide participants with community information about services and programs that support the City’s aging in place model, including where to find the local primary care centre, tips on pedestrian safety, or where to find a local library or activity centre. The walking routes aim to accommodate people of all abilities.
The program takes place year-round on a weekly basis, and is offered in English, Punjabi, and Mandarin. An average of 20 to 30 participants join the program on a weekly basis. Since its inception, an estimated 1,400 have participated.
The basis of this program came from the WALKit web map project, where the City created a map of Surrey that shows the walkability and accessibility of streets, including sidewalks (e.g. their condition and material), proposed neighbourhood routes, major bus stops, areas of interest, and trails.
Relevance to the guidelines
Strategy 1.1 Land use designation
Strategy 1.5 Open spaces
Strategy 2.1 Pedestrian paths and sidewalks