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Better Environmentally Sound Transportation (BEST) is an innovative non-profit charitable organization that promotes sustainable transportation and land use planning. Since 1991, we have been working to support pedestrian, cycling and transit-oriented neighbourhoods. .
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Better Environmentally Sound Transportation (BEST) is an innovative non-profit charitable organization that promotes sustainable transportation and land use planning. Since 1991, we have been working to support pedestrian, cycling and transit-oriented neighbourhoods.
Our work ranges from cycling advocacy to promoting all forms of sustainable transportation: • The Bicycle Valet • Bike Month • Commuter Challenge • AutoObesity • Mobility Matters • HSBC Clean Air Achievers • The Idle Free Campaign • The Central Valley Greenway • And more…
Transportation through a Climate Change lens In BC, transportation was responsible for 25 megatonnes of GhG emissions in 2004, 38% of BC’s total emissions.
Transportation through a Climate Change lens On a per-household basis, transportation accounts for over 60% of GhG emissions.
Addicted to Cars They’re deep in our culture
Addicted to Cars • So we build freeways and suburbs, and we drive to the mall, we drive to get coffee, and we drive to our friends’ houses. • Most people who can afford it, drive everywhere they go.
Addicted to Cars Our addiction to cars is the cause of not only our largest contribution to GhG emissions, which are one cause of climate change, but also: • rising levels of obesity • suburban encroachment on agricultural lands • our unsustainable addiction to a politically volatile supply of fossil fuels
An Interesting Fact In Surrey 60% of vehicle trips are shorter than 5 km. The average person can walk one km in 10 minutes, and bike it in 3 minutes.
What Can Be Done? There are 4 strategies to reduce transportation GhG emissions: • Improve vehicle efficiency • Reduce GhG intensity of fuels • Shift to less GhG intensive transportation modes • Reduce need for transportation services
What Can Be Done? • Improve vehicle efficiency - This doesn’t mean “go buy a hybrid.” On the contrary, the increased fuel-efficiency between a new hybrid and your older car, is completely offset by the amount of energy taken to manufacture that hybrid and ship it here. - Improving vehicle efficiency is the responsibility of manufacturers, not yours. • Reduce GhG intensity of fuel - This is a matter for scientists
What Can Be Done? 3. Shift to less GhG intensive transportation modes - We can all do this. By replacing our shorter trips (7 km or less) with walking and cycling, we would cut our GhG emissions by half. - By carpooling and more efficiently combining shopping errands, we can cut our GhG emissions even further - Join the Car Co-op 4. Reduce need for cars - We can do this by making efforts to shop locally, to live near transit lines, and to carpool and share cars.
The BEST Car Dietis a new, innovative program to help individuals and families reduce their car usage.
AutoObesity is: possessing more vehicles than you really need and using them more often than you really need to. One of the most significant factors affecting the amount of car use is simply car ownership
Though we must urgently reduce car usage, eliminating it completely is unfeasible. So The BEST Car Dietdoesn't ask families to give up all of their vehicles. Rather …
The BEST Car Dietassists families to function with one or fewer vehicles, in conjunction with alternative and active transportation modes.
What Do I Get? Donate your car to BESTand get: • A charitable tax receipt for the full Blue Book value of your car, less the value of the other incentives you select. • Membership with the The Car Co-op • Personalized incentive bundles valued at up to $700, including bikes, adult tricycles, e-bikes, transit passes, gear, and more! • Personalized transportation planning services • Plus all the cost savings of reducing your vehicle ownership. On average, slimming your car ownership by one vehicle can save you over $3000 annually.
The Car Co-op • Saves you money • It’s convenient • It’ll keep you healthier • It has everything from Minivans to Mini-Coopers
Is It Worth It? • YES!The BEST Car Diet gives you a tax receipt for the Blue Book retail value of your car. • YES!Donating your car saves you timeand hassle • YES!BESTwill give you the tools you need to get around • YES!Getting AutoFit helps stop climate change, gets you healthy, and saves you money
Donate your car to BEST, and let us help you and your family make the change to a more healthy, more active, and more sustainable urban lifestyle.
Please contact us at: Better Environmentally Sound Transportation 822 – 510 W Hastings St Vancouver, BC V6B 1L8 Tel: (604) 669-2860 Email: martin.gunst@best.bc.ca