Greenest Transportation City in Canada

Victoria has been ranked the greenest transportation city in Canada (according to a University of British Columbia survey).  The 2^ND annual national ranking of environmentally friendly transportation and the second year Victoria has come out on top.

Meant as a means to foster competition and inspire improvements, the survey criteria considers the number of vehicles on the road, the percentage of people who walk, bike or ride transit and how many buses and taxis use hybrid power or alternate fuel sources.

Tourism Victoria acknowledges this delegation and is proud to promote Victoria, BC as Canada’s most walkable city.

In Victoria, BC alternative transportation options such as walking, biking and public transit are used by a significant portion of residents and visitors, reinforcing Victoria’s title as “Canada’s Fittest City” (Statistics Canada 2006). With the mildest climate in the country, Victoria’s natural beauty inspires people to get out and enjoy their surroundings, making healthy, car-free vacations easy and enjoyable.

Some key examples of  Victoria’s sustainable transportation options include:

• In 2007 Victoria Regional Transit conventional buses, community buses and handyDART vehicles began using a 20% bio-dieselfuel blend.

• Victoria, BC has been chosen as the testing grounds for the first hybrid double-decker bus in North America. A continuation of Victoria’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gases, providing accessible transit options and sustainable living, the hybrid double-decker bus is a unique way to travel throughout the downtown core. The hybrid bus seats 77 passengers, has a smaller nine litre engine and uses electric cells to power the bus during start up mode, leading to considerable fuel savings.

• Harbour Air seaplanes is North America’s first carbon neutral airline.

• Wilson’s Transportation uses bio-diesel fuel, making them the first large private sector coach and school bus fleet in Canada to switch exclusively to bio-diesel fuel.

• CVS Cruise Victoria – All coaches operate on 100% Soy based Bio-Fuel.

• The Victoria International Airport (YYJ) offers a bicycle assembly station which includes a work bench, air pump, bicycle parking, storage shed with cardboard bicycle boxes so you can take a box or leave one for someone else, and (4) bicycle storage lockers.

• Yellow Cab has about 55 or so hybrids in its 90-odd-member fleet.

With excellent air quality, a high number of municipal and transit vehicles using alternative fuels, an extensive network of cycling trails and high housing and hotel density in the city core, Victoria not only shows its commitment to being a leader in sustainable transportation, but also allows visitors to experience a car-free vacation in British Columbia’s capital city.