While the characters from the famous book may stay home on a cold, cold wet day, residents in southern Alberta won't have to.  The Coalition for Active and Alternate Transportation (CAAT) was created in early 2008 after a group of like minded community partners saw a need to bring together various projects pertaining to both active (bikes, trails) and alternate (improved transit, improved sidewalks, walkways/wheelchair access) transportation in and around the City of Medicine Hat. It was apparent that many groups and individuals had worked hard to bring these issues to the forefront, but their efforts were individual rather than collective. The formation of the Coalition was an effort to bring together these organizations and work as a network.

CAAT’s mission is to ensure the safe integration of pedestrians, cyclists, and other active users among the motorized vehicles on roadways, and to create accessibility to active and alternative transportation choices for residents of Medicine Hat, Redcliff and area. Their vision is that, on a daily basis, south east Alberta residents will have the ability to use active and alternative forms of transportation.

CAAT’s immediate goals include informing Medicine Hat residents of the bike lane pilot project and asking them to provide feedback to the City regarding expansion of the bike lanes into other areas of the city. Bike racks have been added to some city buses. New, secure bike racks are also in the works to give riders a safe place to park.

Molly Hansen-Nagel is a part of CAAT through her role as a community coordinator for Healthy Alberta Communities. According to Hansen-Nagel, “The City of Medicine Hat has been working on improved alternate transportation and has commissioned a study to determine public perception of these changes.” CAAT will work with the City and use this feedback to help shape future projects and goals.

The group’s current membership includes partners from Medicine Hat, Redcliff, and surrounding areas. Their work will focus on these locations in 2008/2009 with consideration of linking to other projects in the future.

Some members sit on the coalition as employees of other organizations with mandates to improve community access to active and/or alternative transportation. Others are community volunteers who have a passion for creating a healthier, more active community with transportation choices for all its residents.

CAAT has also benefitted by partnering with another University of Alberta project, Community Health and the Built Environment (CHBE). This partnership could lead to more improvements through looking at the community’s physical environment and how it could be improved.

Given that their work will require support from government, the community, and their partners and stakeholders, CAAT expects to achieve some of their goals sooner than others. Change takes time. Along with this new thinking, they will need resources and infrastructure, but they know they can get there.