| Eighty cents a litre. And that’s just for the cheap stuff. Gasoline is expensive and using it in large quantities is recognized as being harmful to the environment. We’ve been hearing the bell tolling for a few years now, but what can we do in Calgary? Carpool? Car share? Canoe? While Calgary isn’t ideal for every idea, there are a number of alternatives that can be used, all of which are better for your health, the environment and your pocketbook than a motor vehicle. So, if portaging through downtown Calgary doesn’t suit you, try one or a combination of these ideas.
PED POWER
The average person can walk at approximately four kilometers per hour, burning calories along the way. And, as luck would have it, most of us have been doing it since we were toddlers. To get around, a decent pair of walking shoes isn’t required but they make the journey a whole lot less painful in the long run and thus more fun. A walk can also help to slow down the pace of life and re-introduce you to the nuances of your neighbourhood.
Running is another option, with the downside of getting to where you want to be in a sloppy, sweaty mess. This isn’t so bad if there is somewhere to wash up and get changed at your destination.
Cost: Walking shoes: $50. Running shoes: $80.
‘BOARDING AND ‘BLADING
Skateboarding and rollerblading can allow you to travel farther than walking while expending the same amount of energy. Wheels make the difference here--the better the bearings in the wheel, the easier and the longer the ride. Helmets are a necessity and other padding will help the novice escape the discomfort of most road rashes.
Cost: Skateboard: $100. Rollerblades $120. Helmet: $30. Wrist guards and knee pads: $25.
TWO WHEELS AND A HEARTBEAT
Biking is a great way to get around town. Calgary has one of the most extensive bike path systems in North America. Bike prices vary depending on the style you’re looking for. Generally, mountain bikes require more effort on the pavement than a road bike but are more comfortable. Want the best of both worlds? Try a hybrid that takes the wheels and gears of a road bike and places them on a mountain bike frame.
Think you’ll get too sweaty riding around? Try an electric-assisted bike or an electric motor add-on package for your bike. With these e-bikes (or pedelecs as they’re sometimes called), an electric motor starts when it senses you pedalling too hard, usually on starts and going up hills, stopping when you’re done straining. The batteries are rechargeable too.
With cycling, approved bike helmets are the law, so wear one if you want to avoid a fine (and keep your brains inside your skull). A solid bike lock is also a good idea to help prevent someone with sticky fingers from leaving with your ride.
Cost: Regular bike: $300. Hybrid bike: $500. Electric bike: $800. Helmet: $30. Bike lock: $25.
MOTORS MAKE IT EASIER
So you want to get where you want as quickly as you would in a car? Try something with a smaller motor. Mopeds, motor scooters and motorcycles all offer the freedom of a car while using less fuel. The big difference between mopeds, motor scooters and motorcycles is power. Mopeds are smaller vehicles limited to running smaller engines (50 c.c.) and going slower speeds (less than 50 kilometres per hour). Motorcycles are technically all two and three-wheeled motor vehicles that aren’t mopeds. Motor scooters fit in both categories as there are both 50 c.c. models and above.
For all of these vehicles, riders must wear an approved motorcycle helmet and must have both registration and insurance for the vehicle. The good news is that insurance rates for these types of vehicles are lower than for a car. New 50 c.c. vehicles have fuel tanks from six to eight litres in size and offer a fuel consumption in the area of 125 kilometres on a full tank. The larger capacity engines have larger tanks but poorer fuel consumption.
With more power comes more restrictions. To drive a moped or a motor scooter less than 50 c.c., you must have a minimum of a class 7 licence (a class 5, which the average driver possesses, is fine) and you must be older than 14. For motorcycles and motor scooters greater than 50 c.c., drivers require a class 6 (motorcycle) licence and must be older than 16.
Cost: 50 c.c. motorscooter: $2,500. Motorcycle: $6,000. Helmet: $90.
THE BIG BLUE LIMO
OK, city transit isn’t for everybody. But it’s both economical and environmentally friendly – the C-Train is powered by wind-generated electricity. Sure you have to follow CT’s schedule and routes, but on what other transport can you safely ride while staring longingly into the eyes of your date without your mom being behind the wheel? Depending on how often you are going to ride city transit, you can choose from single-trip tickets, day passes and monthly passes.
Cost: Adult fare: $2. Monthly adult pass: $65
HYBRIDS
If you need a car for commuting, both Honda and Toyota offer hybrid gas-electric vehicles that are built to travel 1,000 kilometres on a single tank and offer the lowest emissions of any car on the market. Try that with an SUV.
Cost: Toyota Prius: $30,000. Honda Insight: $27,000. Honda Civic Hybrid: $29,000. |
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