9 tips to reduce car use

4 minutes
Un homme est assis dans un bus

Can I drive less to get around? Yes, you can!

September 22 is World Car-Free Day. Here are 9 alternative ways to get around town. Are you on board?

Driving in Canada means...

Canada has one of the highest car-to-person ratios in the world, with one car for every two people.

It’s not surprising then that transportation accounts for 22% of Greenhouse Gas (This hyperlink will open in a new tab). (GHG) emissions in the country!

GHGs have gone up by 33% between 1990 and 2022. This rise is due in part to the growing popularity of SUVs and other trucks among the general population.

1. Public transportation

Choosing the bus, subway, tramway or commuter train isn’t just cost-effective, it’s also a step towards a more sustainable lifestyle. Say goodbye to stress from being stuck in traffic jams! And say hello to a simpler commute and extra time to relax and unwind!

With just a few clicks, you can buy your tickets, plan your trips, and track real-time departures.

Worried about being late for work? Use express routes designed specifically for peak periods. They’re often faster than driving due to designated lanes.

Choosing the bus means that there are:

  • 40 fewer cars on the road
  • 70,000 litres of fuel saved
  • 168 tonnes of emissions cut each year

2. Active participation

What is it exactly? It’s using your:

  • Bike
  • Walking or running
  • Scooter
  • Roller skates and skateboard

In other words, all means of transportation that get you moving. Pair physical activity with your commute to kill two birds with one stone.

Here, we could list all the benefits for your physical and mental health. But let’s start with the environmental and financial advantages.

Cycling means:

  • No pollution
  • Zero traffic
  • $32,000 in savings over 5 years compared to driving
  • Reduced road wear
Long live bike sharing!

Don’t want to invest in your own bike or worried about it being stolen? Try bike sharing like BIXI (This hyperlink will open in a new tab) in Montreal.

3. Car sharing

Communauto (This hyperlink will open in a new tab), Turo Locomotion (This hyperlink will open in a new tab), Zipcar (This hyperlink will open in a new tab), Modo (This hyperlink will open in a new tab)… There are many car-sharing options.

In all cases, we’re banking on simplicity. Reservations are generally made through the app. You’ll have many options for pickup and drop-off points once your trip is complete.

Joining a car-sharing service is good for the environment:

  • Mileage decreases by about 38% (or 2,900 km) a year per person.
  • GHG emissions in Quebec are reduced by 13,000 tonnes of CO2 a year.
  • 77% of car-sharing users have sold their car or decided not to buy one.

Interested in signing up for Communauto?

Get a $45 discount on your first Communauto1 subscription. All you need is a home, car or recreational vehicle insurance with us.

4. Carpooling

Carpooling means maximizing your car trips.

To reduce solo driving, consider using the following services:

Some employers have also set up a carpooling platform to match employees. Adopting this means of transportation has never been easier.

5. Planning your trips

With your car parked just steps away from your home, what could be easier than heading out whenever you want? Precisely!

Plan so you can reduce the number of trips. Group nearby destinations together.

To cut back on mileage, map out your itineraries using one of the many apps available.

6. Savings to be had

The expenses of owning a car are considerable: payments, car insurance, registration, maintenance, purchasing and installing tires, gas and parking.

But did you know how much you actually pay to own a car? It depends on a number of factors, such as the car model and mileage, but it’s estimated at $10,000. Owning a car is therefore a luxury that not everyone can afford.

7. Hybrid work

If your employer allows it, work once or twice a week remotely.

On top of facilitating work-life balance, teleworking reduces GHG emissions and the impact of fine particulate pollution associated with transportation.

2 key effects are observed:

  • You avoid all impacts created by your own commute.
  • Traffic congestion is reduced, as one less car on the road cuts back on travel time for other drivers.

There are also economic repercussions. In Montreal alone, it’s estimated that it costs businesses nearly $750 million a year.

8. Choosing the bus or train for your business or leisure trips

Travelling by bus or train means arriving in the heart of a city without the stress of traffic or the challenge of finding free parking.

VIA Rail has developed a comparison tool (This hyperlink will open in a new tab) for different methods of transportation, which might just convince you to hop on one of its trains.

9. Electric or hybrid car

If you’re going to drive, why not opt for an electric or hybrid model?

There are many benefits of driving an electric vehicle, starting with its smaller ecological footprint, compared to that of gasoline models. It emits 3 times fewer GHG emissions, and you can finally say goodbye to gas stations.

1 Offered exclusively to active home, car and recreational vehicle insurance policyholders who are not already registered for Communauto.