Transitory zones are public places that connect first, second, and third places and often act as the key locale of unplanned social interaction, enabling encounters with strangers. Gardner(2011) defines transitory zones as places which are not destinations, but places we pass through during the course of our daily public lives. Accessible streets and safe walking environments facilitate, and encourage residents to be ‘out and about’ and thus increase the opportunity of unplanned social interaction. In cities across the UK, Ward Thompson, Curl, Aspinall, Alves, & Zuin (2012) found that a lack of barriers and perceived nuisances, as well as good paths and cycleways and enjoyable routes to local open space are consistently associated with time outdoors, and with general health and well-being among its older adults. Beautified, walkable streets and greenways present strong transitory zones encouraging both social activity and physical activity. Research by Franke et al. (2013) confirmed the theory that access to well-designed green spaces makes the experience of walking more pleasant, and that connected greenspaces facilitate neighbourhood walking and physical activity as well as benefiting mental health.
In the upcoming chapter, I will present Vancouver’s active transportation agenda and the city’s main planning objectives in relation to providing livable communities for the future.