LiveSmart BC Community Feature
Burning Muscles, Not Fuel
Beautiful weather and exercise are great motivators for Scott Staniland to leave his car behind and pedal his way around Vancouver, not to mention the benefits for the environment.
As an ex-mechanic, Staniland understood the future work and environmental damage involved in keeping his 1987 Honda Accord on the road. Receiving an incentive from the BC SCRAP-IT Program, which he put towards a car co-op membership, was an extra bonus for discarding his vehicle at the AMIX salvage yard.
“I want to have a small footprint, from spending and purchasing, to what I consume; cutting down is a big motivator.”
The BC SCRAP-IT Program works to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality by getting older vehicles off the road.
The program offers qualifying vehicle owners a variety of incentives to scrap their older vehicles. The incentive values are based on the greenhouse gas reduction that occurs when an old vehicle is scrapped and an incentive is used as a replacement.
As an avid cyclist, Staniland also works part-time at Dizzy Cycles, a bike shop in Kitsilano, where he comes into contact with many people that are utilizing the bicycle purchase incentive.
“With the incentive program, I see people that usually wouldn’t cycle getting access to better equipment than they would normally be able to afford. They are more motivated to ride and end up enjoying it a lot more.”
For someone that already has an extensive bike collection, joining Vancouver’s Co-operative Auto Network was the right choice for a bicycle connoisseur who is constantly searching for the perfect ride but still needs access to a vehicle every once in awhile.
“It’s a little hard to give up the freedom, but it’s great to have that extra push to get on my bike and ride.”
For more information, visit the BC SCRAP-IT Program.
