As people around the region continue to grapple with rising housing costs and the growing challenge of affordability, it's essential to find innovative ways to address these issues.
One such solution lies right under our noses — cycling. At the end of August, gas prices in Vancouver soared to the highest they have been at $2.13 per litre at many stations.
British Columbia's consumer price index (CPI), representing changes in prices as experienced by consumers, was 3.8 per cent higher (unadjusted) in August 2023 than in August 2022, with the most significant inflationary increases being:
- Food: an increase of 6.3 per cent
- Health and personal: an increase of 5.9 per cent
- Shelter: an increase of 5.1 per cent
As many people look for unique ways to cut costs, non-profit organization HUB Cycling suggests a sometimes overlooked solution to easing the blow of Metro Vancouver’s affordability crisis: bike commuting. HUB Cycling's recent Pedaling Towards Equity report finds that people can save up to $9,200/year by switching their main mode of transportation to commuting by bike. HUB Cycling's Fall Go by Bike Weeks is returning to Metro Vancouver from Oct. 16 to 29, 2023 to show people that commuting by bike can still be safe, fun, and comfortable even in colder, darker weather.
Participants can register themselves or a team for the free community event at bikehub.ca/gbbw.
