BEST Mobility’s Recommendations for the 2027 Provincial Budget
Investments in active transportation improve safety, help households save money, support healthier lives, and strengthen local economies.
Overview
Investing in active transportation is one of the Province’s most cost-effective tools to improve road safety, support affordability, promote healthier communities, and strengthen local economies. Our 2026 recommendations focus on three key areas:
Restore and expand Active Transportation Infrastructure Grant Funding
Maintain the Active Transportation Capital Program
Invest in active transportation education and safety programs
1. Restore and Expand Active Transportation Infrastructure Grant Funding
A small shift in transportation spending can reduce crashes, save households money, improve health outcomes, and help communities build projects they're already asking for.
Recommendation 1:
Restore and expand the BC Active Transportation Infrastructure Grants Program to at least $100 million annually through a reallocation of existing transportation capital funding.
Why this matters
1. Safer Roads, Lower Costs
Traffic crashes and incidents cost British Columbia an estimated $653 million annually. (www.costofinjury.ca). Investments in protected bike lanes, safer crossings, and connected walking networks help prevent crashes and injuries, making active transportation infrastructure one of the most cost-effective road safety investments available.
2. More Affordable Transportation Choices
Walking, biking, and rolling are the most affordable ways to get around. Safe infrastructure enables more people to choose these options, reducing household transportation costs and increasing disposable income spent locally.
3. Healthier People, Lower Healthcare Costs
Safe active transportation infrastructure makes it easier for people to build physical activity into their daily routines, helping prevent chronic diseases that drive long-term healthcare costs. This supports healthier communities while reducing future pressure on BC’s healthcare system.
4. Ready to Build Projects
Local governments and Indigenous communities have a strong track record of delivering successful active transportation projects through cost-shared provincial funding. Reinstating the program would help advance ready-to-build and community-supported projects that improve safety, mobility, and community connectivity.
5. A Smart Use of Existing Transportation Funding
At $100 million annually, the program would represent only a small share of the Ministry’s transportation capital budget while delivering benefits across multiple provincial priorities. Reallocating existing transportation funding toward active transportation delivers measurable returns in safety, affordability, health, and climate outcomes.
2. Maintain the Active Transportation Capital Program
The Active Transportation Capital Program delivers infrastructure on provincially owned roads and rights-of-way where local governments often cannot act alone. Maintaining funding of at least $40 million annually will help close critical network gaps, improve safety, and support rural and unincorporated communities across BC.
Recommendation 2:
Maintain funding for the Active Transportation Capital Program at a minimum of $40 million annually as projected in Budget 2025.
Why this matters
1. A Provincial Solution for Provincial Roads
The Province owns and manages thousands of kilometres of roads and highways across British Columbia. Continuing the Active Transportation Capital Program ensures walking, biking, and rolling infrastructure remains part of provincial transportation investments, not an afterthought. These projects create local jobs in construction, engineering, and infrastructure delivery.
2. Filing Critical Gaps
Many of the biggest barriers to safe active transportation are found on provincially owned roads and rights-of-way. The program helps connect communities, close network gaps, and create safer routes where local communities often lack the authority or resources to act on their own.
3. Supporting Rural and Unincorporated Communities
In many unincorporated areas, there is no local transportation department and limited capacity to plan or fund active transportation infrastructure. The Active Transportation Capital Program ensures residents in these communities can benefit from safe transportation options, regardless of where they live.
4. Building Complete Communities
As British Columbia continues to invest in housing, growth, and community development, transportation infrastructure must support how people actually move. The Active Transportation Capital Program helps ensure new homes, schools, services, and destinations can be safely reached by walking, biking, and rolling. Active transportation supports local businesses by increasing neighbourhood activity, and strengthening local destination economies.
3. Invest in Active Transportation Education and Safety Programs
Infrastructure alone doesn’t change behaviour. People need the knowledge, confidence, and support to use it. By supporting programs that build skills, remove barriers, and encourage participation, the Province can improve safety, advance affordability, and help more people choose active transportation in their daily lives.
Recommendation 3:
Invest $8 million annually in active transportation education, safety, and encouragement programs that help people of all ages and abilities walk, bike, and roll safely and confidently.
Why this matters
1. Making the Most of Infrastructure Investments
Building infrastructure is only part of the solution. Education and encouragement programs help people develop the skills and confidence to use new walking and biking infrastructure, ensuring public investments deliver their full value.
2. Improving Safety Through Education
Safe infrastructure and safety education go hand in hand. Programs that teach road safety, biking skills, and active transportation awareness help reduce conflicts, prevent injuries, and create safer streets for everyone.
3. Supporting People of All Ages and Abilities
Many British Columbians face barriers to active transportation, including language differences, affordability challenges, accessibility needs, and limited access to training. Investing in community-based programs that are culturally responsive, multilingual, and accessible helps ensure more people have the knowledge, confidence, and opportunity to choose active transportation.
4. Creating Lifelong Healthy Habits
Programs delivered through schools, workplaces, and communities help people build active transportation into their daily lives. Encouraging walking and biking supports physical and mental health while reducing long-term pressure on the healthcare system.
5. Proven Programs Ready to Grow
British Columbia already has successful programs that help people choose active transportation safely and confidently. Initiatives such as Everyone Rides, GoByBike Weeks, the Walking and Biking School Bus, School Streets, and the Bike Valet Grant Program help children, families, and adults build skills, develop confidence, and make active transportation part of everyday life. Stable provincial funding would allow these programs to expand their reach and deliver benefits to more communities across BC.
Closing Statement
Together, these recommendations make it safer, easier, and more affordable to get around BC.
They improve safety, help households save money, support healthier lives, and strengthen local economies by supporting vibrant, active communities. With modest, targeted investments across these three areas, more people in BC can choose walking, biking, and rolling as part of everyday life.
Help Create More Transportation Choices for Everyone
Your donation helps us advocate for the infrastructure, education, and policy changes needed to make active transportation a safe and accessible choice for more people across British Columbia.