Vital Signs Data
Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)
SDG 11.2: Provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all, with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations.
PEC is a challenging geographic area to service, with 77% of the population residing in rural communities and 1,200 km of roads to maintain with a low-density tax base.
Public Transit
The PEC Transportation Collective's Getting Around group, consisting of 20 partner organizations, has worked to establish an integrated, affordable, and sustainable transit system in Prince Edward County. The lack of public transportation was identified as a barrier to accessing fresh food, securing employment, completing education, and staying connected with the community. After years of fundraising and community efforts, the County Transit non-profit public transportation pilot was launched in August 2020.
County Transit is a public service to provide quick, easy, safe and affordable transportation for the residents of Prince Edward County.
There is both a fixed route and an on demand route.
Learn more at https://quintetransit.ca/county-transit
Accessible Transportation
Quinte Access provides door-to-door service for seniors & those with limited mobility.
quintetransit.ca/registration
info@quinteaccess.org
(613)-392-9640
1-855-283-9640
Volunteer Driving Services
Escorted travel services are provided by volunteers through Volunteer + Information Centre of Hastings & Prince Edward Counties and Prince Edward County Community Care for Seniors Association.
Delivery of groceries and essential supplies can also be arranged for seniors and people confined at home.
Volunteer + Information Centre
Hastings & Prince Edward Counties
Phone: 613-969-8862
Toll Free: 1-866-340-0899
www.viq.ca
Prince Edward County Community Care for Seniors Association
153 Main St W, Picton
613-476-1555
www.communitycareforseniors.org
Taxi and Uride Services
PECʼs two private taxi companies are used regularly by social service agencies.
Uride is a new pilot in PEC that provides ridesharing services. PEC is a challenging area for Uride, however, it has a committed driver base that has to travel long distances to pick up and drop off riders. Over 99% of rides have received 5 stars which puts PEC as the best Uride area overall.
The majority of rides are tourism related – events – restaurants – pubs etc. Uride currently operates in PEC from 9am-11pm (Sun. to Thurs.) and 9am-3am (Fri. and Sat).
Cycling
In 2021, the County of Prince Edward completed its Cycling Master Plan (CMP) which “imagines a future for Prince Edward County where trails and cycling routes are well connected, and where cycling provides a viable transportation option for residents and visitors alike”.
Commute to Work
As of 2021, driving was the most common mode of transportation to work (91.3 percent), followed by walking or cycling (5.9 percent). One-third of residents having a commute of under 15 minutes, and 58% work within Prince Edward County. The impact of public transit, which was launched in August 2020 during the pandemic and the census data collection year, has yet to be assessed.
Viable transportation options for cyclists are being developed through the Cycling and Transportation Master Plan.
| Commute | PEC 2006 | PEC 2011 | PEC 2016 | PEC 2021 | Ontario 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Car, truck, van, as driver | 81.1% | 85.9% | 86.3% | 84.7% | 83.6% |
| Car, truck, van, as passenger | 9.6% | 5.5% | 5.3% | 6.6% | 7.5% |
| Walked or bicycled | 6.9% | 6.0% | 6.2% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Public transit | 0.8% | 1.3% | 1.0% | 0.2% | 8.6% |
| Worked at home | 12.9% | 11.0% | 13.2% | 27.6% | 29.7% |
| Commute within census subdivision (CSD) of residence | 39.9% | -- | 44.1% | 57.9% | 58.7% |
| Commuting distance, less than 15 minutes | -- | -- | 31.6% | 33.5% | 28.3% |
In 2006, 40% of the workforce was employed within PEC. By 2021, this figure had increased to 58%.
Remote Work / Telework
The flexibility to work from any location is inspiring people to relocate from heavily populated urban areas to rural areas. This trend has driven up the demand for real estate in rural areas such as Prince Edward County. Four in ten Canadians work in jobs that can be done remotely. (Statistics Canada, StatCan COVID-19, Running the economy remotely: Potential for working from home during and after COVID-19)
Pros
- There is potential to reduce air pollution as fewer people commute to work.
- More options for remote work and services help to remove barriers for people with disabilities or challenges such as childcare, transportation or distance.
- Rural regions with limited employment opportunities can benefit from migration of remote workers into their communities.
Cons
- Workers at the bottom of the earnings distribution have less opportunity for telework and greater risk of job automation.
- The lack of reliable internet access for rural residents and businesses across Eastern Ontario has been exposed by COVID-19.
- Commercial office space and the “ecosystem” of local businesses that rely on occupied office buildings are negatively affected.
