Here are a couple of suggestions to reduce the regular use of cars :
ride-sharing (aka carpooling) : ride-sharing reduces the number
of cars on the road and, at the same time, makes for a lighter rush
hour traffic. Ride-sharing moves a greater number of people without
increasing you car's gas consumption. You can also ask for a reasonable
compensation from your passengers, for the gas used and the wear-and-tear
on your car.
public transit : public transit (buses, metro, commuter trains)
are a type of mass ride-sharing. It's an efficient means of transportation
and gives a certain freedom since you don't have to drag your car
everywhere you go and there's no parking problem. If you insist on
using your car, use it half-way to a parking lot near the Namur métro
station (close to Blue Bonnets, aka Hippodrome de Montréal)
or Longueuil station; the Radisson station parking lot is suppose
to re-open soon. For more information, visit the excellent site of
the MTC.
the modal cocktail : the modal cocktail is an idea from the
Ministère des transports
du Québec and later used by Vélo
Québec and the Bureau de taxi de la Communauté
Urbaine de Montréal. It consists of a mix of different
types of transportation : public transit, taxi and car rental. You
can modify the ingredients, add a bicycle or ride-sharing for example.
The annual composition of the cocktail is as follows : eleven MUCTC
public transit bus passes, five taxi rides a week, one car rental
each weekend one month-long car rental once a year (for your vacations).
All this costs, on average, between $2000 and $3000 dollars less than
using a car for the same year!
rental CO-OPs (community cars) : the "community cars" are
cars that are shared by a number of people in your neighbourhood or
district. You only pay a fixed monthly amount to the rental management
CO-OP (the cars are maintained by the CO-OP). Communauto
in Montreal is one example of a CO-OP that offers this service (tel.:
(514) 842-4545).
bicycles : bicycles are a non-polluting means of transportation
and a good exercise. The island of Montreal has one of the most extensive
bike path network in north america (altough some of the paths are
more "touristy"). There are two great Montreal web sites that have
great content on bicycle use as transportation : the Monde
@ Bicyclette site (also contains information on urban sprawl and
car use reduction) and the Vélo-Québec
site.
walking : the oldest, cheapest and least polluting means of
transportation. Of course, it implies that you live or can live near
your workplace and that the neighbourhood that you live in has all the
basic services within walking distance. So, instead of using your car
for shopping, why not take a walk to your local stores.