Kelowna residents slow to get out of their cars: survey
More than one-quarter of Kelowna residents are driving motorized vehicles more than they were three years ago.
That fact comes from a new city survey that also found that 65% of respondents agreed that reducing dependence on cars was the long-term solution to traffic congestion but 59% said building more roads was the answer.
The phone survey was conducted from Nov. 14 to 25 by phoning 300 people on cell phones and land lines. It goes to Kelowna city council on Monday, March 6.
More than a quarter – 28% – say they are driving more often than they did three years ago while about the same number – 27% – say they walk, cycle or take transit more often than they did three years ago.
On the flip side, 61% are making fewer trips than they did in 2019.
The survey also found that 67% of residents are spending more time in traffic than they were three years ago.
READ MORE: Don’t hold your breath waiting for transit to ease gridlock on the highway through Kelowna
In terms of how people currently get around the city, 75% drive their own motor vehicle several times a week. That rises to 92% for those driving at least once or twice a week.
Only 10% currently ride their own bicycles or scooters several times a week and only 5% take transit several times a week.
“Investing in or promoting walking, biking, transit or other sustainable modes of transportation to reduce dependence on privately owned vehicles is important to most (81%) residents,” the report accompanying the survey says.
“Nearly all residents say they would like to get around Kelowna by driving my own car, truck, or motorcycle at least some of the time. However, three-in-ten (30%) say they would like to drive less than they do now.”
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