CleanBC at a Crossroads: How B.C. Can Supercharge Its Climate Goals with Active Transportation

British Columbia’s CleanBC plan is one of the country’s most ambitious climate strategies. It lays out clear long-term emissions reduction targets for 2030, 2040, and 2050, and breaks them down by sector — including transportation, which accounts for about 40% of provincial emissions.

But as the Province reviews CleanBC’s progress, one thing is clear: B.C. won’t reach these targets without a bold shift away from car dependency and toward active, low-carbon transportation options.

As part of this process, HUB Cycling was recently invited to meet with the CleanBC Independent Review Panel to share our input for the ongoing review. During this meeting, we provided feedback based on our past experiences with CleanBC and put forward action-oriented recommendations to help ensure the province stays on a durable path toward achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

What’s Working Well?

B.C. has taken some important first steps:

• Reforming the Motor Vehicle Act (Bill 23) to define Vulnerable Road Users, set minimum passing distances, and establish penalties for unsafe driving.
• Launching innovative pilot programs, like the Electric Kick Scooter Pilot Project, in partnership with communities to expand micromobility options.
• Offering e-bike rebates and removing the PST on e-bike purchases, which have proven wildly popular and helped more residents switch to sustainable modes.

These actions show that legislation, incentives, and pilots can shift cultural norms and make it safer and easier to choose walking, cycling, and other low-carbon modes.

Where B.C. Falls Short

Despite this progress, the mode shift needed to meet CleanBC’s goals remains out of reach.

• Enforcement and awareness gaps mean that many new Motor Vehicle Act protections aren’t fully felt by people walking and cycling.
• Major infrastructure gaps, especially on provincially managed roads and highways, make active transportation unsafe or impractical in many regions.
• Misaligned policies across ministries often prioritize vehicle flow over sustainable modes, undermining CleanBC’s emission reduction targets.

Put simply, EVs alone won’t save us. Electrification is important, but relying on cars — electric or otherwise — will worsen congestion, sprawl, and health impacts. Research shows that people who cycle daily produce 84% fewer carbon emissions from travel than non-cyclists, and even switching one car trip per week to cycling cuts an individual’s carbon footprint by 3.2kg of CO₂.

Closing the Gaps: What Needs to Happen

HUB Cycling recommends several steps to unlock CleanBC’s full potential:

• Adopt a Provincial Mode Shift Strategy: Explicitly commit to reducing vehicle kilometres travelled (VKT) and expand access to safe, convenient active and public transportation.
• Invest in Connected Networks: Fund long-distance cycle highways and complete municipal active transportation networks.
• Modernize the Motor Vehicle Act: Address default speed limits, safer intersections, liability reform, and clearer responsibilities for all road users.
• Boost Active Transportation Funding: Increase provincial active transportation investment to at least $21/person/year for infrastructure and $2/person/year for education and promotion.
• Scale Up E-bike and E-cargo Support: Expand rebates beyond trade-ins and provide incentives for small businesses to adopt e-cargo bikes for last-mile deliveries.

At present, B.C. spends only $1.50 per person per year on active transportation — far below global leaders like the Netherlands ($48), Denmark ($34), and New Zealand ($24).

New Ways to Fund CleanBC

CleanBC doesn’t need to rely solely on grants and rebates. Other jurisdictions show us how to fund climate action more creatively:

• Congestion & Pollution Charges: London funds cycling infrastructure through its Congestion Charge and Ultra-Low Emission Zone fees, while Singapore uses dynamic road pricing to reinvest in transit and active modes.
• Green Bonds: Cities like Paris and New Zealand issue green bonds to fund low-carbon mobility and infrastructure.
• Employer Mobility Programs: Belgium and France require large employers to support cycling and transit commuting through tax incentives and workplace mobility plans.

Better Reporting = Better Results

• Setting targets is only half the battle. Public accountability is lagging. HUB recommends:
• Regular annual reporting on progress toward CleanBC targets.
• Public dashboards with disaggregated data by sector, region, and demographic.
• Performance-based funding: tie provincial funding to measurable climate and transportation outcomes.

Tracking vehicle kilometres travelled, mode share by trip type and demographics, network completion rates, and road safety outcomes for vulnerable users would give a fuller picture of progress and ensure investments benefit the communities that need them most.

Why This Matters

Investing in active transportation isn’t just a climate strategy; it’s also a strategy for affordability, health, and equity.

• Affordability: Walking and cycling dramatically reduce household transportation costs.
• Health: More active trips mean lower chronic disease rates, better mental health, and reduced healthcare spending.
• Equity: Prioritizing underserved areas (including Indigenous communities and small towns) ensures the benefits of CleanBC are shared widely.

CleanBC has set the right goals. Now it needs the funding, accountability, and bold vision to make them real.

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With contributions from Evan Hammer, Navdeep Chhina, and Leanna Grimes.