By Joslin Jose, WE-CAN Volunteer, with Avi Dolgin, and with valuable contributions from the BEST Mobility Team. BEST Is a proud member of WE-CAN.
SPRING, 2035, A DARK VISION
“Liza, can you help me find my respirator?” shouts Andrew, a retired policeman, as he leans back on his couch by the window.
“You keep losing them, even though you know how much you need them to breathe,” Liza, his wife and a retired teacher, replies in frustration.
“Please find it for me. I’m struggling—I feel like my heart is heavy.”
Sighing, Liza hands Andrew a new respirator. She sits beside him, and together they stare out of the soot-covered window, sipping their matcha.
Outside, the sleek, metallic-finished roads are congested with traffic. Some cars run on electricity, while others still use fuel. The pavements are wide, stretching to the base of towering buildings. Wearing masks is mandatory in schools. Just this week, the 10th hospital specializing in pulmonary and heart health was inaugurated. There are no trees, no flowers, and the sky is black.
“Liza, I’m remembering the good old days—when the sun smiled over the countryside, cherry blossoms bloomed, and fresh lilies scented the air. We used to chat and play as we walked to school. The rain was enchanting, bringing bursts of joy to our faces. We’d jump in muddy puddles, knowing we’d get scolded by Mom afterward,” Andrew says with a nostalgic smile.
Did you ever imagine the future would look like this? The small choices we make today determine what lies ahead. So, let’s look at an organization that teaches us how to take meaningful steps toward a healthy and holistic future by changing the way we move.
Better Environmentally Sound Transportation (BEST) is a non-profit organization founded in 1991 with a mission to promote cycling and sustainable transportation. As one of the first mobility advocacy groups in the Lower Mainland of BC, BEST has been at the forefront of facilitating access to shared, active and public transportation options in Greater Vancouver and across British Columbia.
“One Less Car!—that’s how we started,” says Pablo Zacarías, Executive Director of BEST. “For people to lead a healthy lifestyle, they need a reliable, affordable, and accessible public and active transportation system. We’re not against car usage, but we advocate for car-sharing and discourage the unnecessary purchase of new cars every year.”
BEST has launched several initiatives to encourage walking, cycling, and multimodal transportation.
LIVING STREETS- WALK THE TALK
Living Streets, a BEST initiative supported by TransLink, is a growing community of over 1,000 walkers that fosters social interactions, promotes low-barrier physical activity, educates people on using public transit, and helps people explore their city. What started with a handful of participants has now grown into a thriving community of over 2,000 members.
BEST offers regular group walk as a part of Living Streets
“The Living Streets program was created specifically to promote social connection through walking,” Pablo explains. “Pedestrians are often left out of transportation conversations, because walking is seen as something given. The beauty of Living Streets is that it’s non-commodified and completely free. It has now evolved into a wonderful community of over 1,500 people who enjoy walking, helping combat social isolation, fostering connections, and promoting an active lifestyle.” Join the Living Streets community on MeetUp today!
WALK 30 CHALLENGE – 30 MINUTES – 30 DAYS
“We also run the Walk-30 Challenge, which encourages people to walk for daily errands and get to know their community,” Pablo adds. “New Westminster and Burnaby are regularly part of the challenge, and this year, the City of Vancouver will be joining as well, along with TransLink and Vancouver Coastal Health.”
“It’s a fun and accessible challenge where participants commit to walking for 30 minutes a day over 30 days during the month of April. The goal is to help people realize how far they can travel on foot for their everyday needs—whether it’s grocery shopping or meeting friends. It’s a simple, friendly, and low-barrier way to integrate walking into daily life.”
WALK30 2024 Launch Event with Patrick Johnstone, Mayor of New Westminster, Mike Hurley, Mayor of Burnaby, BEST staff and members of the community
BIKE VALET- PARK STRESS-FREE
Established in 2006, Bike Valet is a flagship social enterprise run by BEST that proudly holds the title of Canada’s first and longest-running bicycle parking service. Since its inception, Bike Valet has operated at over 70 events each year—totaling more than 1,300 events over nearly two decades. With over 300 event days annually, the service has parked an estimated 388,000 bikes and counting. By providing free, secure, and professionally attended parking for bikes and everything that rolls, Bike Valet continues to make cycling to events easy, accessible, and worry-free for communities across the province.
The Downtown Vancouver Bike Valet
The service is free for users, with costs covered by clients and municipalities. Through this program, BEST employs over 80 people annually, primarily from equity-deserving groups, including newcomers, students and seniors—many of whom experience their first job through Bike Valet.
EVERY STEP IS A MILESTONE
Highlighting BEST’s successes, Pablo continues, “We’ve seen huge enthusiasm among youth to embrace multimodal transportation. ICBC reports even show a decline in the number of young people seeking a driver’s license. BEST has served as an incubator for various sustainable transportation initiatives, instilling awareness among youth about car sharing and emissions reduction rather than car ownership.”
BEST has consistently worked toward facilitating access to safe, shared, sustainable, and active transportation options for all road users. In recognition of its work, BEST received the City of Vancouver Mayor’s Environmental Award in 2004.
Some of BEST’s past initiatives include opening Vancouver’s first do-it-yourself bike store, Our Community Bikes, now an outstanding non-profit on their own. The organization also coordinated Ride for the Environment events during National Environment Week, back when bicycling was far less common as a mode of transportation.
BEST also collaborates with youth and universities to encourage sustainable transportation choices. Partnering with institutions like UBC, Langara University, SFU, and UBC Sauder, as well as organizations like BC Trails, HUB Cycling, and United Way, BEST continues to drive forward its mission of fostering equitable, clean and sustainable mobility.
SENIORS ON THE MOVE – SAFE TRANSPORT FOR ALL
The Seniors on the Move program, a collaboration between BEST, United Way, and other supporting organizations, aims to create a space where sustainable and safe transportation is accessible to seniors across the province. The program envisions reducing seniors’ dependence on cars for their daily needs, easing the driving cessation process, while promoting public transport options, including public transit, shuttle services, and volunteer driving programs.
At its core, BEST envisions an ecosystem that fosters mobility equity, improves infrastructure, and ensures safe and accessible transportation for people of all ages and abilities.
SPRING, 2035, Liza and Andrew’s apartment – A DARK REGRET
Andrew gazes out of the window. Scratching his head, he shouts in frustration, “Those wide, wide roads with no place to walk! There must have been some wise folks pushing for alternatives back then. Wasn’t anybody listening?”
Become a member or Donate to BEST- https://www.best.bc.ca/get-involved/sponsorship
Participate in Best Move, a free festival & beer garden to celebrate sustainable transportation to be held on August 24th at David Lam Park
Register for Walk 30, happening in April – https://www.walk30.ca/walks
