Active communities, built to keep people moving

You notice when a community is designed for easier movement.

More people outside.
More bikes on the trail.
More families walking to school.
More ways to get where you need to without getting back in the car.

The community feels different.

More connected.
More active.
More alive.

That feeling is being shaped through the spaces, routes and programs that make movement part of everyday life in York Region.

For some residents, it starts with the opportunity to explore something close to home. The Lake to Lake Route stretches 121 kilometres through the heart of York Region, connecting communities through trails, cycling routes and outdoor spaces. Combined with local bike lanes, multi-use paths and walking trails, these networks make it easier for people to stay active while discovering more of the communities around them. 

For students, movement can become part of the school day. Walking or cycling to school helps build confidence, independence and healthy routines that can last over time. In 2025, 86 schools across York Region participated in Bike to School Week, encouraging more students and families to make active transportation part of everyday life.

Getting active also becomes easier when transportation systems work together. 

Across York Region, transit connections help residents reach parks, trails, recreation spaces and daily destinations more easily. Every YRT bus is equipped with bike racks, allowing riders to combine cycling and transit as part of their commute. More than 410 bike racks at over 100 bus stop locations throughout the Region help support active travel beyond the bus ride.

Investments in rapid transit and cycling infrastructure are expanding those connections even further, with 34 kilometres of rapid transit infrastructure, 38 canopy stations and 60 kilometres of cycling lanes having already been built. These additions help create more ways for residents to move through their communities.

For many families, staying active starts with access.

Recreation subsidies help reduce financial barriers so more children and families can participate in local programs, sports and activities alongside their peers. These opportunities support more than physical activity. They help build confidence, friendships and a stronger sense of belonging through shared community experiences with 1,888 children and parents accessed local recreation programs through Positive Leisure Activities for Youth (PLAY) in 2025.

Because active communities change more than how people move.

They change how communities feel.

Trails become gathering places. 
Transit becomes a connection point.
A bike ride becomes part of someone’s routine.

Over time, movement becomes woven into everyday actions.

And when communities are designed to make activities easier, more accessible and social, people are more likely to take part in them.

That is what helps communities feel healthier, connected and more vibrant over time.

Discover how movement helps shape the moments that matter across York Region at york.ca/RegionalServices