As a Quebecer, I am proud that almost all the energy we produce and consume comes from renewable sources. With this in mind, I understand your government’s interest in encouraging us, through the Roulez vert program, to opt for electric cars.
However, long before the rise of this new type of car, an affordable and ecological sport utility vehicle already existed: the bicycle. With the adoption of policies encouraging utility bicycles in many cities in Quebec and the meteoric rise in gas prices, more and more people are adopting bicycles as a means of transportation. Knowing this, it is unfortunate to see that your government does not offer financial incentives to Quebecers to help them get a new utility bike, an electric bike, or even a cargo bike capable of taking children to daycare. and do the rounds at Costco.
For example, in the UK, the “Cycle Scheme” allows workers to pay for a bicycle and accessories at source, before tax, in order to make cycling to work more affordable. The implementation of such a program would make cycling even more interesting and could stimulate the local economy by directing many workers and their transportation budget to often independent bicycle shops rather than car dealerships.
To make it simpler, we could simply stop taxing the purchase of bicycle equipment up to $1,000 or $2,000 per year. Thus, like other things good for us such as unprocessed food and books, the bicycle would be spared the 9.975% that the Quebec state takes on our consumption.
Finally, while financial support for cyclists may seem superfluous when buying an affordable utility bike, it is worth mentioning that the machines with the greatest potential for reducing emissions and congestion, e-bikes and cargo bikes, can be very expensive. In fact, for an average Quebec family to abandon one of their two cars, they need a complete and practical replacement solution. With their sophisticated components, their varied accessories and their ability to withstand bad weather, electric cargo bikes can suit urban and suburban life and climb the steepest hills.
The only problem: their price can exceed $5,000. By including these electric vehicles in the Roulez vert program and by promoting them to the population, your government would send a clear message to Quebecers that green and sustainable mobility does not require the purchase of a car.
If the adoption of electric cars by Quebecers is a good thing, we have the opportunity to see further and encourage an active, sustainable means of transportation that does not cause traffic problems. As the provincial elections approach, I encourage you to include cycling in your platform to encourage Quebecers to ride truly green.