Active Pathways: The Evidence & The Scale

A comprehensive breakdown of network scale, budget efficiency, and verified ROI.
StreetSweeper

Mission: Find the 40km Truth.
Danger: Avoid the Nails.
Click squares to scan. Use Flag Mode to mark nails.

Win
Nail
3
Count of Nails
Blue = Close
Red = Far

Network Scale

1 Block = 10 Lane Kilometers.

SNOW & ICE CONTROL BUDGET (EST)
ROADWAYS MAINTENANCE $57.00 M
Heavy machinery, sand, salt, grading (12,000 km)
SIDEWALKS & TRANSIT $4.50 M
Manual clearing near City facilities
WINDROW MGMT $3.50 M
Residential driveway clearing
BIKE LANES $2.00 M
Specialized small equip (40 km)
TOTAL ANNUAL $67.00 M
* Roads account for ~90% of total liability.
* Bike Lanes represent ~3% of spend.
🏪 The Wallet Effect
Retail uplift for local shops.
Evidence: BIA studies from Toronto and Portland show active commuters make smaller but more frequent trips, spending +40% more per month than drivers. Bike lanes allow for "impulse stops" that are impossible for through-traffic cars.
⚖️ Infrastructure
Reduced road wear & tear.
The Fourth Power Law: Road damage is exponential to axle weight. A 2-ton car does 10,000x more damage than a bicycle. Every trip shifted from car to bike extends pavement life, deferring millions in resurfacing costs.
♥ Health Savings
Public healthcare ROI.
Verified ROI: WHO studies estimate that for every $1 invested in active pathways, the public sector saves $3 in long-term healthcare costs (reducing heart disease & diabetes).
🚦 Traffic Flow
Congestion reduction.
Density: A 3m car lane moves ~1,000 people/hour in congestion. A 3m bike lane moves ~5,000. Every cyclist is one less car in the queue at the traffic light in front of you.

Bike Ridership Growth (2018-2024)

Source: City of Edmonton Open Data (Eco-Counter)
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