How do you get around? Local government needs to know

Image Credit: Okanagan Travel Survey

October 11, 2013 - 8:30 AM

KELOWNA - The municipalities in the central Okanagan and city of Vernon want to get an accurate picture of how you get from point A to point B.

For the first time in 5 years, a travel survey is underway. The goal is getting your daily travel pattern information.

Did you jump in your car and drive yourself to work? Were other people in your vehicle? Maybe you took the bus, rode your bike or walked — all things transportation planners and engineers need to know.

The more surveys filled out means there will be better picture of how people travel. That will in turn help the local government design the best transportation system for the Okanagan.

The municipalities involved have mailed invitation cards to all the households in the area. The invited contain an access code that will allow you to login online. You can also get an access code on the website.

It takes about 5 to 10 minutes to do the first part of the online survey.

Those that register, and complete the first part of the survey, will be given a specific day to record their travel habits. There are trip diaries for everyone in the household to fill out. Then they enter that data on the website.

For those without a computer or access to one, paper surveys are available at the various municipal offices.

The Cities of Kelowna and Vernon, the Districts of West Kelowna, Peachland and Lake Country, along with the Westbank First Nation and the Regional District of the Central Okanagan are all taking part in the Okanagan Travel Survey.

“We’re hoping about 5 per cent of the residents fill in the survey,” City of Vernon transportation engineer Amanda Watson said. “That would be a good cross-section for us.”

A similar survey was done in 2007, but a lot has changed since then.

Watson says they also used to use the census data from the federal government. The information collected isn’t statistically valid anymore because the census surveys are no longer manditory.

Are you still thinking the survey is a waste of your time? Well, you didn’t know about the prizes and the donation to the United Way.

The grand prize is a $5,000 shopping spree. There are three $1,000 shopping sprees, $7,000 worth of gift cards, a weekend for a family of four at Big White, seasons tickets to the West Kelowna Warriors and $25 gift certificates to Kelly O’Bryan’s restaurants.

For every survey submitted, a dollar will be donated to the United Way up to $5,000.

If you want more information about the Okanagan Travel Survey you can go to the website or call 1-877-778-8220.

To contact the reporter for this story, email halexander@infotelnews.ca or call 250-491-0331.