The majority of Sarnia council appeared to be pleased with an Active Transportation Master Plan presented to them on Monday.
Councillor Adam Kilner agreed with the presenter, who used the quote "if you build it, they will come."
"My backyard goes out to Confederation Street and there's a [new] paved pathway back there," said Kilner. "I can tell you, I used to have maybe one person go by a day, [and] I swear I see 50 people [now] going by on rollerblades, on bicycles, [and] walking. I saw people walking out there this morning, even in the cold weather."
Kilner said it's encouraging to see.
"I also see people every day on that paved walkway along Modeland Road in the north end doing the same thing," he said. "So, I think it's a really important thing to keep the vision and to encourage more active forms of transportation. It's certainly, in my estimation, made things look a whole lot safer and empowered people to at least walk more in my neighbourhood."
But Councillor Terry Burrell wasn't convinced and questioned the demand for active transportation networks.
"We have been building it over the last number of years and I don't notice a lot, or even hardly any, people using the various bike trails," said Burrell. "I mean, there are some people who do it all the time, yes, but very few."
Burrell said he understands the positive health impacts.
"But, there doesn't seem to be a demand for this. There seems to be a push for it from certain sectors, but I don't see the actual wanting of these active transportation networks in existence before they happen," he said.
No decisions were made Monday, staff said they will return in February to seek final adoption of the plan.