The city of Charlottetown has officially approved a multi-million dollar plan aimed at encouraging people to get out and be more active through biking or walking in the P.E.I. capital region.

The Regional Active Transportation Plan was collaboratively developed by the communities of Charlottetown, Stratford and Cornwall, as well as the province.

Mike Connolly, director of Cycling PEI, said the plan is a step in the right direction.

"That's a huge step for Prince Edward Island as a whole. People may be commuting to work a bit more often," Connolly said. "I travel the North River Causeway every day to work, and I'm seeing a lot more people coming through there now. I think it's a, 'Build it and they will come,' kind of mentality, and I think that's how it's going to work."

According to Statistics Canada, about 15 per cent of people in Charlottetown walk or bike to work, compared with the national average of seven per cent.

The plan includes some low-cost measures such as signs and bike racks, along with recommendations for major capital improvements to link the three communities with cycling and walking trails.

Sue Hendricken, Charlottetown parks manager and steering committee member, said the whole plan has been a work in progress with some of the small-scale aspects of the project already in place.

The plan describes "active transportation" as, "Any form of human-powered transportation that is walking, cycling, pedestrians with mobility devices, skateboarding, cross-country skiing, etc."

Connolly says, as the bike network is expanded, education campaigns will be required for cyclists and motorists.

Stratford and Cornwall have yet to officially sign on to the plan. Early cost estimates for the multi-year project are between $16 million and $17 million.